Australia's Peter Hooley made the miracle shot that created tears of happiness in the US and Australia.
Now the Adelaide 23-year-old, who lost his mother Susan to a long battle with colon cancer in January, is focused on leading his US college team this week to the ultimate prize - the NCAA Tournament.
Known in the US as The Big Dance and March Madness, it brings together the top 68 college teams in a knockout format.
Hooley's New York-based University of Albany, also featuring Caulfield Grammar School centre Geremy McKay and Sydney Knox Grammar brothers Mike and Sam Rowley, are 500-1 no-hopers with bookmakers.
But, as Hooley showed on Saturday with 1.6 seconds left and his Great Danes down two points to rivals Stony Brook in a game to decide if they'd make the tournament, Albany played as if it had six players on the court.
The ball somehow was knocked back to Hooley at the top of the key and after missing his first three shots from behind the arc, Hooley sank the winning three-pointer.
"I know mum was with me every step of the way," Hooley said.
"She probably put that ball in the basket better than I did."
The US media has embraced Hooley and his emotional story, with millions expected to tune in when Albany plays the University of Oklahoma on Friday.
But there's plenty of other Australians in the tournament, which begins on Tuesday.
Overall, the Kentucky Wildcats, after a 34-0 season and a team filled with future NBA Draft picks, are the 2-1 favourites to win the title.
The other top seeds are Duke, Villanova and Wisconsin.
Baylor University, a third seed, features former Box Hill Senior College forward Deng Deng while another threat is Louisville, with 208cm centre Mangok Mathiang from Melbourne.
Eastern Washington is loaded with four Aussies, Newington College guard Daniel Hill, Box Hill High forward Venky Jois and Wesley College's Felix Von Hofe.
Boise State has Australian Institute of Sport duo Anthony Drmic and Igor Hadziomerovic and St Augustine's College forward Nick Duncan.
Lafayette has Sydney Tech centre Nathaniel Musters and North Sydney Boys' forward Dan Trist.
Other Australians in the tournament include Louisiana State's 213cm centre Darcy Malone, San Diego State guard Park U'u and Butler's Jackson Aldridge.
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