High Point punches ticket to NCAA Tournament with Big South Championship
High Point punches ticket to NCAA Tournament with Big South Championship originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
March Madness is headed back to High Point.
The High Point Panthers are going dancing again after winning the Big South Championship on Sunday, defeating the Winthrop Eagles to secure the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. After a slow start, High Point went on a major run to take a 39-32 halftime lead.
The second half was all Panthers as they finished the job 91-76. Rob Martin led the way for High Point with a team-high 23 points. Cameron Fletcher had 19 rebounds to break the Big South championship game record.
High Point has been one of the best mid-major teams in the country all season, and the Panthers finished the job when it mattered most. After dominating the Big South during the regular season, they carried that momentum into the conference tournament and closed it out with a championship performance.
Now the Panthers will wait for Selection Sunday to see where their March Madness journey begins. They will head to the big dance on a 14-game winning streak.
A season to remember in the Big South
High Point controlled the Big South for much of the season.
The Panthers finished the regular season 29-4 overall and 15-1 in conference play, comfortably claiming the league’s regular-season title. The Panthers lost games to UAB, Southern Illinois, Appalachian State and Winthrop.
They were one of the most entertaining offensive teams in the country, averaging nearly 90 points per game and regularly pushing the pace.
Forward Terry Anderson led the Panthers with 16.0 points per game while shooting over 56 percent from the field. Anderson had 18 in the title game. Martin also played a key role, providing scoring and leading the team in assists.
Night after night, High Point’s offense proved difficult for opponents to slow down.
Panthers deliver in the Big South tournament
When the conference tournament arrived, High Point looked like a team determined to finish what it started.
The Panthers moved through the bracket and reached the championship game, where they faced Winthrop with the Big South’s NCAA Tournament bid on the line.
High Point delivered in the title game, securing the championship and locking up another trip to the NCAA Tournament.
It was the kind of finish that matched the season the Panthers had built from November through March.
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Flynn Clayman leads the way
This season also marked the first year leading the program for head coach Flynn Clayman.
Clayman took over the program in 2025 and quickly maintained momentum. The Panthers continued playing an up-tempo offensive style and remained one of the most dangerous teams in the Big South.
In his first season as head coach, Clayman helped guide High Point to a conference championship and another NCAA Tournament appearance.
Panthers return to March Madness
High Point is still relatively new to the NCAA Tournament stage.
The Panthers made their first Division I tournament appearance in 2025, falling to Purdue in the opening round. Now they are headed back for a second straight season after capturing the Big South title.
With a high-powered offense and a team that has been winning all season, High Point will enter the NCAA Tournament hoping to make a little more noise this time around.
