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Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. shoots during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Hawaii, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Portland, Ore.
AP
Who can stop the Panthers?
Entering Saturday’s Round of 32 matchup against No. 4 Arkansas, No. 12 High Point is grooving to a 15-game win streak. In fact, it has won 23 of its last 24 games.
The Panthers edged out Wisconsin, 83-82, as a 10.5-point underdog in true March Madness fashion via Chase Johnston’s game-winning layup.
Arkansas drowned Hawaii, 97-78, by showcasing depth, transition speed and post presence with Malique Ewin recording a double-double in just 31 minutes.
The Razorbacks demonstrated why they are one of the tournament’s most balanced groups in that effort, converting 26 assists on 32 made baskets and controlling tempo to create open shots in transition.
Darius Acuff Jr., the SEC Player of the Year, added 24 points and seven assists while five total players recorded a double-figure point output.
That’s why they are favored over the Cinderella Panthers by 11.5 points on Saturday.
High Point vs. Arkansas prediction, odds
For what it’s worth, the Panthers do thrive in high-paced, perimeter-oriented contests.
High Point ranked third nationally in fast-break points and drained 15-of-40 3s against Wisconsin, and Johnston’s near-50 percent 3-point shooting makes him a constant X-factor whom Arkansas must respect.
The Razorbacks match that speed as the nation’s No. 2 overall team in fast-break points, so that helps explain why this game sports the highest point total on Saturday’s card at 169.5.
High Point Panthers guard Chase Johnston (99) reacts after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectArkansas wields clear advantages inside, though.
High Point struggled against Wisconsin’s size in the frontcourt, and Ewin and Trevon Brazile can exploit those gaps, particularly in transition and off long rebounds.
I never like to hang my hat on trends, but no team has won back-to-back games as a double-digit underdog since the tournament expanded in 1985, per Action Network.
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Arkansas faced one of the toughest schedules in the country, including all eight teams from last year’s Elite Eight. That experience in high-pressure games counts for something here.
High Point, despite its 31-4 record, primarily played a Mickey Mouse schedule.
A lot of rides on Johnston’s 3-point shooting in order for the Panthers to keep this within 12 points.
If he should become contested, any forced long-range shots from other role players are unlikely to match the Razorbacks’ inside scoring.
THE PLAY: Arkansas -11.5 (-110, bet365)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.
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