High Point University rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Wisconsin 83-82 in a first-round matchup of the 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on March 19, 2026, at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The Panthers, representing the Big South Conference, secured their first win in NCAA tournament history.[1][2]
High Point guard Chase Johnston scored a layup with 11.7 seconds remaining to give his team the lead. The play followed a missed layup by Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd, with High Point guard Rob Martin securing the rebound and passing ahead to Johnston on the breakaway. Johnston, known primarily as a three-point specialist, recorded his first two-point field goal of the season.[3]
Wisconsin retained possession after Owen Aquino blocked another Boyd drive and High Point's Cam'Ron Fletcher missed a free throw. With 1.8 seconds left, Badgers guard Andrew Rohde's inbounds pass was intercepted by High Point's Terry Anderson to seal the outcome.
In a postgame interview, Johnston credited his faith, saying: "First and foremost, I wanna give all glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It's been an unbelievable season. This is a group of guys that's built on John 15:13. We serve each other, we love each other, and we'd die for each other. I'm so grateful."
High Point qualified for the tournament by winning the Big South Conference tournament. The University of Wisconsin, a member of the Big Ten Conference, entered as a No. 5 seed.[1][4]
The Panthers advance to face No. 4 seed Arkansas in the second round on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the same venue.[3]
- Final minutes sequence:
- Boyd misses layup (would-be 84-81 Wisconsin lead)
- 11.7 seconds: Johnston layup (High Point 83-82)
- Aquino blocks Boyd layup
- Fletcher misses free throw
- 1.8 seconds: Rohde pass stolen by Anderson
Sources
- Wikipedia, "High Point Panthers men's basketball", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Point_Panthers_men%27s_basketball
- NCAA.com, "Men's basketball tournament overview", accessed October 2024, https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness
- Fox News, "High Point upsets Wisconsin in March Madness first round", March 20, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- Wikipedia, "Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_Badgers_men%27s_basketball
