St. John's Sophomore Ian Jackson Delivers Clutch Performance in March Madness Upset of Kansas

Jackson scores 10 points off the bench to help fifth-seeded Johnnies advance to Sweet 16 for first time since 1999

Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:55am

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Sophomore Ian Jackson came up big for St. John's in their 67-65 second-round NCAA Tournament victory over No. 4 seed Kansas, scoring 10 points in 20 minutes off the bench. Jackson, a Bronx native, played a key role in defending Kansas star Darryn Peterson and helping the fifth-seeded Johnnies advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.

Why it matters

St. John's has emerged as a surprise contender in this year's March Madness, and Jackson's performance was crucial in the team's upset of a highly-touted Kansas squad. The win marks the second straight season St. John's has won 30 games, a feat they last accomplished in the mid-1980s, and further establishes head coach Rick Pitino's program as a rising power in the Big East.

The details

Jackson provided a spark off the bench for St. John's, scoring 10 points and playing strong defense on Kansas star Darryn Peterson, who shot just 5-for-15 from the field. The Johnnies overcame a couple of controversial calls that went against them late, including a blocked shot that was ruled a clean block and a late Kansas basket that should not have counted.

  • St. John's defeated Kansas 67-65 on March 22, 2026 to advance to the Sweet 16.
  • This marks the first time St. John's has reached the Sweet 16 since 1999.

The players

Ian Jackson

A sophomore guard from the Bronx who transferred to St. John's from North Carolina and delivered a clutch performance off the bench in the team's upset win over Kansas.

Darryn Peterson

The star player for Kansas who was held in check by Jackson's defense, shooting just 5-for-15 from the field.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of St. John's who has led the team to back-to-back 30-win seasons and their first Sweet 16 appearance in over 20 years.

Zuby Ejiofor

A St. John's player who gave Jackson a pep talk before the game, encouraging him to step up for the team.

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What they’re saying

“For me, it's special. Me being a kid from New York, a kid from The Bronx, seeing St. John's growing up not really being the most sought-after school, to see what Coach P has built, what we're doing this year and the history we're making, to be able to come home and do something special with this group of guys, with this coach, it's truly special to me.”

— Ian Jackson

“To have an impact or a role in this win is huge. My teammates believe in me, Coach believes in me to go out there and perform and help us win.”

— Ian Jackson

What’s next

St. John's will face the winner of the game between No. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. 8 seed TCU in the Sweet 16.

The takeaway

Ian Jackson's breakout performance off the bench was a key factor in St. John's stunning upset of Kansas, showcasing the depth and talent of this Johnnies squad. The win further cements Rick Pitino's rebuilding job at St. John's and has the team dreaming of their first Final Four appearance since 1985.