03/19/26 05:26:00
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03/19 17:24 CDT High Point stuns Wisconsin 83-82 in March Madness on Chase
Johnston's first 2-point basket of season
High Point stuns Wisconsin 83-82 in March Madness on Chase Johnston's first
2-point basket of season
By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) --- Chase Johnston made his first 2-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 3-pointers for the Panthers,
who were 10 1/2-point underdogs, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. He came in
shooting 64 of 132 (48.5%) from 3-point range but 0 of 4 inside the arc, and he
had played more minutes (406) and scored more points (196) without making a
2-point shot than any player in the country.
"I wasn't really thinking whether it was a 2 or a 3, I was just trying to put
it in and win the game," Johnston said.
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 and John Blackwell added 22 points and 10
rebounds for the Badgers (24-11), who have lost to a lower-seeded team in each
of their last four NCAA Tournament appearances. They fell to No. 11 seed Iowa
State in 2022 and No. 12 seed James Madison in 2024 and lost in the second
round last year as a 3 seed to sixth-seeded BYU.
This latest upset was responsible for ending the hopes of the vast majority of
entrants who tried to complete a perfect 2026 bracket.
"You get sent home when you don't take care of the things you need to take care
of," Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said.
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 1 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.
"Just to be on this stage and play a game like this, something you dream about.
I remember playing basketball with my brother in he backyard, one-on-one. We
had our own little brackets, picking what teams we wanted to be and trying to
win March Madness," Clayman said. "And now to be on this stage with these guys
and being able to hit a couple of shots and finish the layup, It's just
something I'll never forget."
High Point was resilient against Wisconsin's duo of Blackwell and Boyd, taking
a 43-41 lead early in the second half. Both Badgers guards averaged 19-plus
points this season.
The Badgers pushed ahead 56-50, but High Point tied it at 58-all on Martin's
3-pointer. After a Wisconsin turnover, Martin missed a layup and on the next
possession, Rohde hit a 3 for the Badgers.
Braeden Carrington's 3 stretched Wisconsin's lead to 68-61 with 7:45 left.
Terry Anderson's dunk got the Panthers within 72-70 with 3:48 left. After Boyd
answered with a pair of free throws, Johnston hit another 3 to get the Panthers
within a point.
Johnston hit his fourth 3 to pull High Point within 82-81 with 55 seconds to go.
The Badgers, making their 29th tournament appearance, lost in the semifinals of
the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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