The 2026 NCAA Tournament wasted no time delivering a shocker. The No. 5-seed Wisconsin Badgers seemed to have everything under control early on, but No. 12-seed High Point had other plans.
The Panthers clinched a thrilling 83-82 victory, thanks to a clutch transition layup with just 11.7 seconds left on the clock. Chase Johnston, making waves with his sharpshooting, stepped up with his first two-point shot of the year when it mattered most.
For Wisconsin, it's another early exit under head coach Greg Gard. Despite their road victories this season, the sting of being a No. 5 seed upset in the first round lingers.
Nick Boyd was a standout performer, hitting 10-of-20 from the field and racking up 27 points. John Blackwell wasn't far behind, contributing 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting, giving both guards a solid 50% shooting night.
High Point’s bench was a key factor, outscoring Wisconsin's 28-13. Even with Nolan Winter back in action, Gard kept him to just 21 minutes, during which he scored eight of the Badgers' 13 bench points.
In the aftermath, Wisconsin fans flooded social media with their reactions, expressing a mix of disappointment and disbelief.