flynn clayman was at the center of a chaotic finish Thursday night as No. 12 High Point edged No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82 in the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament in Portland, Oregon. The game ended with High Point’s first-ever tournament win, delivered on a breakaway layup with 11. 7 seconds left and a frantic final sequence that left Wisconsin’s season over on the tournament’s opening day. As of 11: 59 p. m. ET on March 19, 2026, the loss had already reignited pointed conversations around Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard and the program’s continuing inability to break through in March.
What happened in the final minute
The decisive play came after Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd missed a layup that would have put the Badgers ahead 84-81. High Point guard Rob Martin secured the rebound and launched a downcourt pass to guard Chase Johnston, who finished the go-ahead breakaway layup with 11. 7 seconds remaining.
Johnston’s basket carried extra weight: he is described as a 3-point specialist, and the layup was his first two-point basket of the season. After Johnston’s score put High Point in front, Owen Aquino blocked a driving layup attempt by Boyd, keeping Wisconsin from immediately answering.
The closing seconds stayed messy and tense. High Point’s Cam’Ron Fletcher was fouled and missed a free throw, giving Wisconsin one more opportunity with 1. 8 seconds left. Wisconsin’s Andrew Rohde then threw a long pass that was stolen by Terry Anderson, setting off a celebration that included first-year coach flynn clayman at midcourt.
Immediate reactions: faith, emotion, and the coaching spotlight
In the moments after the upset, Chase Johnston, guard for the High Point Panthers, framed the win through faith and team identity. “First and foremost, I wanna give all glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, ” Johnston said. “It’s been an unbelievable season. This is a group of guys that’s built on John 15: 13. We serve each other, we love each other, and we’d die for each other. I’m so grateful. ”
On the Wisconsin side, the loss landed with visible emotion. The defeat came with Wisconsin holding a strong position with roughly seven minutes left before it slipped away in the final seconds, and the reaction from head coach Greg Gard and players including John Blackwell underscored how sharply it was felt inside the locker room.
The result also sharpened existing criticism of Wisconsin’s March outcomes. The team’s latest early exit marked the second time in three years it has been eliminated in the first round as a No. 5 seed, and it extended a broader stretch in which Wisconsin has either missed the tournament or failed to advance beyond the first weekend for nine straight years.
Quick context: why this upset hit so hard
Wisconsin entered the tournament after finishing 24-11 overall and 14-6 in the Big Ten, with significant wins that included Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois twice. The season also had turbulence early, with eight new faces and an initial struggle to mesh before the team found form late.
What’s next after the Flynn Clayman breakthrough
High Point’s path does not get easier. The Panthers will face No. 4 Arkansas on Saturday, with their first-ever NCAA Tournament win now serving as the launching point for the next test.
For Wisconsin, the immediate future centers on internal evaluation. The program leaves Portland with another abrupt ending and an urgent offseason conversation around what has to change so March doesn’t keep producing the same outcome. And for High Point, the story now moves forward with momentum—and with flynn clayman carrying the spotlight into the next round.
