Unfancied High Point topple Wisconsin in first upset of March Madness
Chase Johnston of the High Point Panthers celebrates his three-point basket against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second half on Thursday. Photograph: Soobum Im/Getty Images Chase Johnston made his first two-point basket of the season, a fast-break layup with 11. 7 seconds remaining that gave No 12 seed High Point an 83-82 victory over fifth-seeded Wisconsin on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Johnston finished with 14 points, including four three-pointers for the Panthers, who were 10-and-a-half-point underdogs. He came in shooting 64 of 136 (47. 1%) from three-point range but 0 of 4 inside the arc.
Related: March Madness 2026 men’s predictions: who will cut down the nets in Indianapolis? Rob Martin had 23 points and 10 assists for the Panthers, who will face either 13th-seeded Hawaii or No 4 seed Arkansas in the second round of the Midwest Region on Saturday. Nick Boyd finished with 27 points for Wisconsin (24-11).
John Blackwell added 22 points and 10 rebounds. After Johnston’s bucket gave High Point the lead, Owen Aquino blocked a driving layup by Boyd. The Panthers’ Cam’Ron Fletcher was fouled and missed a free throw, giving the Badgers a chance with one second left, but Andrew Rohde’s long pass was stolen by Terry Anderson and the celebration was on for High Point and first-year coach Flynn Clayman.
High Point earned a spot in the tournament by winning the Big South title for the second straight season. This was the first March Madness win for the Panthers, who lost to Purdue in the first round last year. Clayman took over for Alan Huss, who left to become an assistant at Creighton with the stipulation he’ll be Greg McDermott’s successor.
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