High Point University delivered one of the defining moments of the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, knocking off Wisconsin Badgers in a result that instantly reshaped brackets across the country.
Yet while the upset will carry historical weight for High Point, the soundtrack accompanying the final seconds may prove just as enduring.
As the clock ticked down, the moment began to crystallize. Student broadcasters Jimmy Rosselli and Griffin Wright captured the chaos, disbelief, and celebration in a way only college radio can. Their call blended urgency and awe. It mirrored the arena’s emotional swing, moving from cautious anticipation to an eruption matching the upset’s magnitude.
High Point’s closing sequence unfolded with a composure that belied its underdog status. A defensive stand forced Wisconsin into a contested look, and when the shot failed to fall, the Panthers secured the rebound that effectively sealed the outcome.
From there, the final horn became inevitable, even as the seconds stretched longer in the minds of everyone watching and listening.
Rosselli’s voice rose first, cutting through the noise with a clear recognition of what was about to happen. Wright followed, layering in context and emotion as the possession shifted and the realization set in.
Together, they built a call that escalated naturally, avoiding forced dramatics while still delivering the kind of moment listeners expect from March basketball. When the buzzer finally sounded, both voices broke into celebration, a release that felt earned rather than manufactured.
“Blocked! There it is. There it is. Throw on the glass slipper. It’s a Cinderella story in Portland, Oregon,” exclaimed Rosselli at the buzzer. “Oh, what a feeling. For the first time in program history.”
Meanwhile, the significance of the upset itself cannot be overstated. High Point’s win not only advances the program but also reinforces the unpredictable nature of the tournament’s opening weekend.
High Point was one of four double-digit seeds to win on the first day of the tournament. Following the Panthers were No. 11 seeds VCU and Texas and 10th-seeded Texas A&M.
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