SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals men's basketball team was greeted with a hero's welcome when they returned home Thursday after their huge win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers 74-73 in Lincoln.
Because school is out, some faculty and staff were on hand with the warm welcome.
After the Cardinals made the transition to Division 1, they have several big-time schools on their schedule, and to beat Nebraska one the road is big time.
Kyle Hittle, from New Braunfels, hit the game-winner with just over 2 seconds left in the game.
"I honestly don't remember much of it. (It's) just a dream come true for me," Hittle said.
"All of a sudden, the ball went over the backboard and 'swish,'" said Ken Burmeister, head basketball coach.
That one shot made Hittle and his teammates instant celebrities, getting stopped in the airport in Omaha on the way home.
"People (were) asking for autographs (and saying), 'Are you Hittle?' Stuff like that," Hittle said.
"Some people told me they never heard of our school before and they thought we were really good," said Denzel Livingston, Cardinals guard.
That win also put UIW on the basketball map. The highlights were on ESPN and social media was lighting up.
"We were trending on Twitter," Hittle said.