PORTLAND, Ore. — The High Point Panthers authored a stunning upset in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday, defeating No. 5 seed Wisconsin 83-82 in a thrilling finish at Moda Center. The victory marks the first March Madness win in program history for the Big South Conference champions, and it came with a pointed message from head coach Flynn Clayman regarding scheduling practices in college basketball.
Trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, High Point rallied behind a game-winning layup from guard Chase Johnston with 11.7 seconds remaining. Johnston’s basket, remarkably his first two-point field goal of the season, capped a frantic sequence that included a missed layup by Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd and a crucial rebound secured by Rob Martin. The Panthers then sealed the win with a steal by Terry Anderson in the final seconds.
But the celebration wasn’t solely about the on-court victory. Clayman used his postgame platform to challenge the established power conferences to re-evaluate their scheduling philosophies, arguing that mid-major programs like High Point are often overlooked and undervalued. “It looks pretty obvious to me that high-majors need to play mid-majors early in the season,” Clayman stated after the game. “Because they said we didn’t play nobody. We played somebody now.”
A Schedule Built on Conference Play
High Point (22-12) completed its season largely within the confines of the Big South Conference, a common reality for mid-major programs. Their non-conference schedule featured primarily fellow mid-major opponents, limiting opportunities to test themselves against teams from the Power Four conferences – the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. This lack of high-profile matchups, Clayman argues, contributes to a perception that these teams are not competitive, a perception he emphatically refuted on Thursday.
“I know how good of a team we are,” Clayman continued. “But nobody would play us, just like they wouldn’t play Miami (Ohio). But they gotta play us in this tournament.” Miami (Ohio) also secured an upset victory in the first round, defeating No. 11 VCU 79-75.
The issue isn’t fresh. For years, mid-major coaches have voiced concerns about the difficulty of scheduling Power Four opponents, who often prioritize revenue-generating games against other high-major programs or guaranteed buy games against lower-division teams. The NCAA has discussed scheduling reforms in recent years, but significant changes have yet to materialize.
Johnston’s Late Heroics Seal the Upset
The game itself was a back-and-forth affair. Wisconsin (25-9) built an early lead, but High Point refused to head away. Johnston finished with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, even as Kezzaiah Phillips added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Panthers. Wisconsin was led by AJ Storr with 22 points.
With the score tied at 82, Johnston drove to the basket and converted a layup with 11.7 seconds left, giving High Point its first lead of the game. A subsequent block by Owen Aquino on a driving layup attempt by Boyd further solidified the Panthers’ advantage. After a foul and a missed free throw by Cam’Ron Fletcher, Wisconsin had one last chance, but a long pass intended for Boyd was intercepted by Anderson, effectively ending the game.
What’s Next for the Panthers?
High Point will now advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face the winner of the matchup between No. 4 seed Duke and No. 13 seed Vermont. The game is scheduled for Saturday at Moda Center. This marks only the second tournament appearance for the Panthers, who lost to Purdue in the first round last year.
Clayman’s message resonated beyond the confines of the arena. It sparked a broader conversation about equity and opportunity in college basketball, and whether the current system truly allows for a level playing field. The Panthers’ victory serves as a potent reminder that talent and determination can be found at all levels of the sport, and that overlooking mid-major programs comes at a risk.
The NCAA Tournament continues Friday with a full slate of games. Fans can find updated brackets and schedules on the official NCAA website.
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