High Point University pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the opening round by defeating fifth-seeded Wisconsin 83-82 on Thursday at the Moda Center in Portland. Chase Johnston became the hero of the night when he drove to the basket for a go-ahead layup with just over eleven seconds remaining on the clock. The victory marks a historic milestone for the twelfth-seeded Panthers, who entered the game as double-digit underdogs against their Big Ten opponents. It was a classic postseason moment that saw a mid-major program take down a traditional basketball powerhouse on the national stage.

The game-winning play was particularly unlikely given Johnston’s specific role on the team as a long-range specialist. Before that final drive, the veteran guard had not converted a single two-point field goal during the entire season, missing his previous four attempts from inside the arc. Johnston had spent the afternoon doing what he does best, hitting four three-pointers and providing a much-needed spark off the bench. When the game was on the line, he abandoned his usual perimeter game to attack the rim after receiving a long pass from teammate Rob Martin.

Wisconsin appeared to have the game under control late in the second half when they held an eight-point lead with five minutes left to play. However, High Point refused to go away quietly and relied on Johnston’s hot hand to close the gap. He buried a deep three-pointer from the logo to ignite a comeback that eventually erased the deficit. The Panthers proved they belonged in the tournament, joining a rare group of thirty-win teams that had to fight for respect after being handed a lower seed by the selection committee.

This victory carries significant weight for the Big South Conference, which has struggled to find success in the tournament in recent years. High Point is the first team from the league to win a game in the main bracket since 2007, ending a long drought of upsets for the conference. Head coach Flynn Clayman praised his veteran guard for accepting a move to the bench earlier this year for the good of the team. That selflessness paid off during the final stretch as Johnston scored eleven of his fourteen points in the second half to lead the charge.

The Panthers now move forward in the bracket with the momentum of a giant-killer as they look to extend their improbable season. For Wisconsin, the loss marks a disappointing and early exit after a season where they were expected to make a deep run into the later rounds. High Point will look to keep their defensive intensity high as they prepare for their next opponent in the round of thirty-two. The eyes of the college basketball world remain on this small-school squad to see if they can turn this single upset into a genuine Cinderella story.