Underdog High Point University defeated the University of Wisconsin–Madison on Thursday to win the first upset of the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament.
The 12th-seeded Panthers knocked off the 5th-seeded Badgers 83-82, thanks to the game-winning shot by Chase Johnston who made sure to honor Christ at “The Big Dance.”
Johnston scored 14 points during the game, including four 3-pointers and the game-winning 2-pointer. After the win, a reporter rushed up to Johnston to get his reaction.
“It felt great! First and foremost, I just want to give all the glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 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,” he said, pointing to the team’s true source of unity.
John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
The Daily Citizen reports that Chase wears the #99 to refer to the Parable of the Lost Sheep, and how the Good Shepherd would leave the 99 sheep safely in the fold to run out looking after a single lost sheep.
And several sources report he had Acts 20:24 written on his shoes. It states, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
