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High Point is in great shape after its first March Madness victory in school history.
The 12th-seeded Panthers came back from double digits to defeat No. 5 Wisconsin in the first upset of the tournament in a thrilling 83-82 victory.
High Point didn’t have many opportunities to put the country on alert, as its entire schedule was filled with other mid-tier schools.
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Head coach Flynn Clayman of the High Point Panthers celebrates after the High Point Panthers upset the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament held at the Moda Center on March 19, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. (Photos by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA via Getty Images)
But head coach Flynn Clayman criticized Power Four schools for seemingly avoiding High Point and other mid-majors throughout the season.
“It seems pretty obvious to me that the high-majors have to play the mid-majors at the start of the season. Because they said we haven’t played anyone. We’ve played someone now,” Clayman said shortly after the victory.
“I know what a good team we are. But no one would play us, just like they wouldn’t play Miami (Ohio). But they have to play us in this tournament.”
Head coach Flynn Clayman of the High Point Panthers is hugged by guard Scotty Washington and forward Terry Anderson after upsetting the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament held at the Moda Center on March 19, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. (Photos by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA via Getty Images)
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High Point guard Chase Johnston scored the game-winning basket with 11.7 seconds remaining on a breakaway layup after Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd missed a layup that would have put the Badgers up 84-81. High Point guard Rob Martin collected the rebound and fired a shot past a streaking Johnston. Surprisingly, Johnston’s layup was his first two-point basket of the season.
After Johnston’s bucket gave High Point the lead, Owen Aquino blocked a Boyd layup. The Panthers’ Cam’Ron Fletcher was fouled and missed a free throw, giving the Badgers a chance with 1.8 seconds 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. It was the first March Madness victory for the Panthers, who lost to Purdue in the first round last year.
Braden Hausen of the High Point Panthers celebrates his block with teammate Terry Anderson against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second half of the first round of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Moda Center on March 19, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Johnston finished with 14 points, including four 3-pointers for the Panthers, who were 10.5-point underdogs.
