In March Madness stunner, 5th-seeded Wisconsin suffers 1-point loss to No. 12 High Point

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 in Portland, Ore., including four 3-pointers for the Panthers, who were 10 1/2-point underdogs, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. He came in shooting 64 of 136 (47.1 per cent) from 3-point range but 0-for-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.

"You get sent home when you don't take care of the things you need to take care off," 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 one 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.

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