High Point Panthers Pull Off Major Upset Against Wisconsin

Faith and resilience were at the heart of the High Point Panthers’ remarkable journey after they stunned the basketball world by defeating No. 5 Wisconsin in March Madness. The game, which ended with a narrow score of 83-82, marked High Point’s first victory ever in the NCAA Tournament.

High point guard Chase Johnston played a pivotal role, scoring the decisive basket with just 11.7 seconds remaining. In his post-game comments, he expressed a deep sense of gratitude: “First and foremost, I want to give all the glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” he said. “This has been an incredible season. We live by John 15:13, emphasizing love and service to one another. We are truly thankful.”

Johnston’s remarkable shot came on the heels of a crucial missed layup by Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd, which had initially given the Badgers an 84-81 lead. High Point’s Rob Martin made a critical rebound and launched a pass to Johnston, whose shot marked his first two-point basket of the season, despite being known mostly as a 3-point specialist.

The excitement didn’t stop there. After Johnston’s clutch basket, Owen Aquino made a key block against Boyd’s drive. In a tense final moment, Panthers’ Camron Fletcher was fouled and unfortunately missed a free throw, but Terry Anderson intercepted Wisconsin’s long pass, igniting celebrations among High Point players and first-year coach Flynn Kleiman.

This victory continues High Point’s momentum, as they secured the Big South title for the second consecutive year and were competing in the NCAA Tournament for only the second time. Last year, they faced No. 4 Purdue as a No. 13 seed but were unable to secure a win.

Looking ahead, the Panthers face yet another formidable challenge on Saturday against No. 4 Arkansas. Nevertheless, Coach Kleiman exudes confidence in his team, especially after voicing concerns about mid-major programs often being overlooked during the season.