High Point upsets Wisconsin in 1st round of NCAA tournament
PORTLAND, Ore. – Chase Johnston made his first 2-point basket of the season, a quick layup with 11.7 seconds left 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 10½-point underdogs, according to Sportsbook. He came in shooting 64 of 136 (47.1%) from 3-point range but 0 of 4 from inside the arc.
Rob Martin had 23 points and 10 assists for the Panthers, who will face 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 Boyd layup. 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. It was the first March Madness victory for the Panthers, who lost to Purdue in the first round last year.
Clayman succeeded Alan Huss, who left to become an assistant at Creighton with the stipulation that he would be Greg McDermott’s successor.
High Point held its own against Wisconsin’s duo of Blackwell and Boyd, taking a 43-41 lead early in the second half. Both Badgers guards have averaged over 19 points this season.
The Badgers took a 56-50 lead, but High Point tied it at 58 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 pushed Wisconsin’s lead to 68-61 with 7:45 left. Terry Anderson’s dunk brought the Panthers within 72-70 with 3:48 to play. After Boyd responded with a pair of free throws, Johnston hit another 3 to bring the Panthers within one point.
Johnston hit his fourth 3 to bring High Point within 82-81 with 55 seconds left.
The Badgers, making their 29th tournament appearance, lost in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals to Michigan.
