Chase Johnston hadn’t made a 2-pointer all season. His layup gave High Point a March Madness win

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Chase Johnston had tried four 2-pointers all season before he took a long pass from teammate Rob Martin, with a clear path to the rim in the closing seconds of High Point’s March Madness opener.

Given that history, the long-range specialist had no thoughts of trying anything flashy.

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Johnston converted an easy layup for his first 2-point basket of the season, giving High Point the lead with 11.7 seconds remaining, and the 12th-seeded Panthers held on from there to beat No. 5 seed Wisconsin 83-82 on Thursday for the first major upset of the NCAA Tournament.

“I was just trying to finish it, honestly. To be down one, get the ball thrown up to me, I was just like, ‘Get this in the rim,’” Johnston said. “We can go shock the world if we do this.”

He came in shooting 64 of 132 (48.5%) from 3-point range but 0 of 4 inside the arc, and he had played more minutes (406) and scored more points (196) without making a 2-point shot than any player in the country.

“It’s such justice that he gets all this national attention for never making a 2-point shot all season,” High Point coach Flynn Clayman said. “Then the first one he makes is to get us to this win in the NCAA Tournament.”

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Johnston finished with 14 points, including four 3-pointers for the Panthers (31-4). His last 3 was the 415th of his career, one more than Stephen Curry and good for 22nd in Division I history.

“We’ve seen Johnston make some circus ones today off one leg,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “It’s exactly what I saw on film. His ability to shoot the ball and get it off quick.”

High Point was a 10 1/2-point underdog, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and for most of Thursday’s game, Johnston filled his usual role in the Panthers’ offense — coming off the bench and hunting long-range shots that he converts with incredible efficiency. He went 4 of 6 beyond the arc, and his final 3 pulled High Point within 82-81 with 55 seconds to go.

He will…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/chase-johnston-hadnt-made-2-223822987.html

Author : ANNE M. PETERSON

Publish date : 2026-03-19 22:38:00

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