Freshman media studies and production major Dan Ray, of Cumberland, Maine, chose Temple University in part because he wanted make a name for himself at a large school in one of the country’s biggest media markets.

On Sunday, he did that and more by sinking a half-court shot for $10,000 at the women’s basketball game and earning a coveted spot in SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.

“I’ve never been in that position before where something miraculous like that happened,” said Ray, whose stunned reaction inspired dozens of Photoshopped edits (fleeing a tornado; as various characters in video games) on Reddit.

Ray was randomly selected to participate in the contest—held in front of a record McGonigle Hall crowd during a loss to No. 2-ranked Connecticut—and approached the shot with confidence, having sunk half-court shots while playing basketball with friends.

No special preparations or technique here. As soon as he got the ball in his hands, he threw it up, initially fearing he shot too far left.

“When I saw it go through the net, it was unbelievable,” said Ray, who ran back and forth on the court and screamed toward the stands before exchanging hugs in the student section. He will apply his winnings to his tuition costs.

“Knowing that eruption in the crowd was for me gave me a rush of adrenaline I’ve probably never felt before in my life.”

By the time he returned to his seat, he had already received nearly two dozen texts from family and friends. Before he left the arena, an ESPN representative told him to expect a SportsCenter appearance later that night.

Of course, that night wasn’t a normal Sunday. It was Super Bowl Sunday, and Ray was cheering on his favorite team, the New England Patriots.

Incredibly, getting ready for his half-court shot wasn’t the tensest moment of the day. It was the final minutes of the Patriots’ come-from-behind victory.

“It was a pretty good day,” he said.