St. John’s falls in nail-biter to Duke in Sweet 16 heartbreaker

St. John’s March Madness run is over in the Sweet 16.

The fifth-seeded Red Storm led at the half and came out firing early in the second, but No. 1 seed Duke proved to be too much in an 80-75 Blue Devils win on Friday night.

St. John’s Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor looks to pass past the Duke Blue Devils defense in the first half during the NCAA East Regionals, Sweet Sixteen tournament at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC on March 27, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Zuby Ejiofor grabs a rebound. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Four St. John’s players finished in double figures, but the dream season comes to an end.

Dylan Darling’s would-be game-tying 3-pointer on the Johnnies’ final possession fell short.

Duke will next play the winner of UConn-Michigan State in the Elite Eight.