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The High Point Panthers promise a $550 payout for every $100 bet should they somehow manage to win against Arkansas Saturday night.
This is only the second time High Point has made the NCAA Tournament, having done so for the first time last year.
This is the first time they have advanced to the second round after upsetting Wisconsin on Thursday.
High Point comes into Saturday as one of the biggest Cinderella teams, not to mention one that shattered plenty of brackets.
Chase Johnston made his first 2-point basket of the season, a fast-break layup with 11.7 seconds remaining that gave No. 12 seed High Point an 83-82 victory over fifth-seeded Wisconsin.
Johnston finished with 14 points, including four 3-pointers for the Panthers, who were 10 1/2-point underdogs, according to Sportsbook. 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.
“I wasn’t really thinking whether it was a 2 or a 3, I was just trying to put it in and win the game,” Johnston said.
Their opponent Saturday destroyed Hawaii in the first round.
Darius Acuff Jr. had 24 points and seven assists, and No. 4 seed Arkansas continued its strong play after winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament, beating No. 13 seed Hawaii 97-78 on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“I’ve got three tapes that I’ve got to watch of High Point. They’re good. Wisconsin found out, and they’re not afraid,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said. “I recruited (High Point’s Cam’Ron Fletcher) to Kentucky, so I know how good he is. They’re good, we’re not walking in thinking this will be an easy one. None of them are easy.”
High Point beating Arkansas outright would truly be an upset of massive proportion.
To date, 22 No. 12 seeds have advanced to the Sweet 16.
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
