Student wins car with half-court shot during IU game

With just one shot, junior David Paulen, an Indiana Daily Student staff reporter, became the talk of Assembly Hall Saturday night. By sinking a half-court bank shot during a halftime promotion sponsored by Indianapolis-area Volkswagen dealers, Paulen won a 2004 VW Beetle.\nPaulen said someone from IU Sports Properties approached him before the game and asked if he wanted to take the shot.\n"During the whole first half, I pretty much wasn't paying attention to the game," Paulen said.\nWhen he headed courtside toward the end of the first half, time seemed to start ticking slower. Paulen's waiting process was further drawn out during the award presentation for former IU and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green.\n"It seemed like he talked forever," Paulen said. "And I can't remember a word he said."\nAfter Green's speech was over, Paulen was hurried onto the court for his shot at glory. Starting a few steps behind the map of Indiana at center court, he ran forward and launched his shot from the middle of the state. That's when time really seemed to stand still.\n"After I let it go, it was on line, and I started fading backwards. It honestly just went in slow motion," Paulen said. "Then, all of the sudden, it went in, and I just lost it."\nNo one was more surprised than freshman Steve Braun, who sat near Paulen at the game.\n"I was pretty shocked," Braun said. "I thought it was pretty crazy that it actually bounced off the backboard perfectly and went in."\nPaulen hasn't been handed the keys to his car just yet. A videotape of his shot still must be reviewed by the insurance agency sponsoring the promotion to verify that he didn't step over the half-court line.\nPaulen is sure he got the shot off before he toed the line, although he said some people have told him it looked pretty close.\nProvided the shot is verified, he will be contacted by Volkswagen and will get to choose what color and options he would like for the car. Right now, Paulen said he is leaning toward silver.\n-- Contact senior writer Alex Hickey at ahickey@indiana.edu.