High Point's Chase Johnston delivers faithful message after scoring game-winning March Madness upset basket

After No. 12 High Point pulled disconnected a large upset successful March Madness, religion was the lone happening connected 1 Panther's mind.

High Point came backmost from treble digits to instrumentality down No. 5 Wisconsin successful the tournament's archetypal upset successful a thrilling 83-82 triumph for its archetypal triumph successful the tourney ever.

High Point defender Chase Johnston scored the game-winning handbasket with 11.7 seconds left, and helium delivered a faithful connection aft the game.

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High Point Panthers defender Chase Johnston (99) reacts aft defeating the Wisconsin Badgers successful a archetypal circular crippled of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament astatine Moda Center. (Craig Strobeck/Imagn Images)

"First and foremost, I wanna springiness each glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," helium said. "It's been an unbelievable season. This is simply a radical of guys that's built connected John 15:13. We service each other, we emotion each other, and we’d dice for each other. I'm truthful grateful."

Johnston's bucket came connected a breakaway layup aft Wisconsin defender Nick Boyd missed a layup that would person enactment the Badgers up 84-81.  High Point defender Rob Martin hauled successful the rebound and fired downcourt to the streaking Johnston — a 3-point specialist, the bucket was Johnston's archetypal two-point handbasket of the season.

High Point Panthers defender Chase Johnston (99) is interviewed aft defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the 2nd fractional of a archetypal circular crippled of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament astatine Moda Center.  (Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images)

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After Johnston's bucket gave High Point the lead, Owen Aquino blocked a driving layup by Boyd. Panthers' Cam'Ron Fletcher was fouled and missed a escaped throw, giving the Badgers a accidental with 1.8 seconds left, but Andrew Rohde's agelong walk was stolen by Terry Anderson, and the solemnisation was connected for High Point and first-year manager Flynn Clayman.

High Point earned a spot successful the tourney by winning the Big South rubric for the 2nd consecutive season. Last twelvemonth was its archetypal ever quality successful the tournament, but it mislaid arsenic a 13-seed to No. 4 Purdue.

Head manager Flynn Clayman of the High Point Panthers is embraced by defender Scotty Washington and guardant Terry Anderson aft upsetting the Wisconsin Badgers successful the archetypal circular of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held astatine Moda Center connected March 19, 2026, successful Portland, Oregon.  (C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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The Panthers person different pugnacious task connected their hands against No. 4 Arkansas connected Saturday, but aft Clayman called retired large schools for avoiding mid-majors passim the season, helium evidently feels beauteous assured successful his squad.

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