For a few seconds Australia's Mangok Mathiang, with millions of American sports fans watching, was the hero.
Then he was the villain.
The 208cm tall, Sudanese-born, Melbourne-raised giant was at the free throw line for US college basketball powerhouse University of Louisville on Sunday, there were 4.9 seconds left and opponents Michigan State were ahead 65-64.
Mathiang has a terrible 48 per cent free throw percentage, but there he was, with his team's destiny in his over-sized hands on the court in Syracuse, New York.
If he sank the two free throws Louisville would move into the NCAA tournament's Final Four and play another powerhouse, Duke University, for the right to be in the championship game.
Mathiang's first shot was a brick, hitting the back of the ring hard and then bouncing high above the backboard but then miraculously falling into the basket.
The score was 65-65.
His team-mates, who were grimacing and praying on the sideline because they knew how off target the big man could be, laughed and cheered.
A TV camera focused on Michigan State great Magic Johnson who was in the crowd. When the ball dropped in Johnson's face looked as though he'd eaten Vegemite for the first time.
"I was positive we were going to win when that first three throw went in because it shouldn't have gone in," Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said.
Mathiang then attempted the second free throw to win the game.
Clunk.
But, no miracle bounce this time and the game went into overtime.
Michigan was too strong and won 76-70, with defensive force Mathiang finishing with four points, two blocks, four fouls and seven rebounds from 37 minutes.
"We were a free throw away from winning the game," Pitino said.
Sometimes it can be a cruel game."
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