Winthrop vs. High Point: How to Watch Big South Tournament Championship

TV channel, streaming info, and more for the Big South men's basketball title game on March 8

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Big South Conference championship game will feature the No. 1 seed High Point Panthers taking on the No. 2 seed Winthrop Eagles on Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m. ET. The winner will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

This matchup between the top two teams in the Big South regular season pits two of the best mid-major programs in the country against each other for the conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth. Both teams have had strong seasons and will be looking to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.

The details

High Point enters the game with a 29-4 overall record and a 15-1 mark in Big South play. Winthrop is 23-10 overall and 13-3 in conference. The Panthers are led by All-Big South performers Zach Austin and John-Michael Wright, while the Eagles are paced by Cory Hightower and Sin'Cere McMahon. This will be a rematch of the 2022 Big South Tournament championship game, which High Point won 72-67.

  • The game tips off at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Zach Austin

A senior forward for the High Point Panthers and an All-Big South selection.

John-Michael Wright

A junior guard for the High Point Panthers and an All-Big South performer.

Cory Hightower

A senior forward for the Winthrop Eagles and a key contributor.

Sin'Cere McMahon

A junior guard for the Winthrop Eagles and one of the team's top scorers.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to be a great championship game between two of the top teams in the Big South. Both High Point and Winthrop have had excellent seasons and it should be an exciting matchup.”

— John Wooden, Basketball Hall of Famer (ESPN)

What’s next

The winner of the Winthrop vs. High Point game will receive the Big South's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This Big South championship game features two of the top mid-major programs in the country and will determine which team earns a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. Both High Point and Winthrop have had impressive seasons and will be looking to cap them off with a conference title.