SAN DIEGO — Freshman standout Darryn Peterson delivered a breakout performance Friday night, knocking down four 3-pointers and scoring 28 points to lead fourth-seeded Kansas Jayhawks to a 68-60 victory over tournament newcomer Cal Baptist Lancers.
Kansas (24-10) appeared to be cruising early in the second half, building a commanding 48-22 lead just four minutes after the break. But the 13th-seeded Lancers (25-9), energized by a vocal student section, refused to go quietly.
Dominique Daniels Jr. scored 25 points to spearhead a furious comeback, including two late 3-pointers that fueled an 18-2 run and brought the crowd at Viejas Arena to life. A layup by Martel Williams cut the deficit to 66-60 with 1:16 remaining.
Cal Baptist had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but Daniels missed a mid-range jumper with 22 seconds left, halting the rally. Moments later, Tre White punctuated the win with a thunderous dunk with 13 seconds remaining, finishing with 12 points.
Peterson, widely considered a contender for the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, was especially dominant late in the first half. He scored Kansas’ final seven points before halftime, capped by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave the Jayhawks a 38-18 advantage at the break.
With the win, Kansas advances to Sunday’s second-round matchup against fifth-seeded St. John’s Red Storm, setting up a high-profile coaching duel between Hall of Famers Bill Self and Rick Pitino. St. John’s advanced with a 79-53 victory over Northern Iowa in the East Region.
The Jayhawks are looking to make it past the tournament’s opening weekend for the first time since 2022, when they captured the national championship.
Despite the loss, Cal Baptist leaves with a milestone achievement, having reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history after winning the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
