Southern University Guard Met by 'Happy Birthday' Singing at Free Throw Line

In competition, the most minute details can often have the greatest impact.

It's why basketball fans have creatively manufactured unique means of distract opposing players at the free-throw line—going so far as to recruit Olympic gold-medal swimmer Michael Phelps or even dressing as scantily-clad Dr. Seuss characters. 

What Southern University's Chris Thomas was confronted with at the charity stripe was just as (or possibly more) original.

With his team down by 11 late in the first half while facing Holy Cross, the sophomore guard took a deep breath, stepped up to the line...

...and was met by a chorus of "Happy Birthday" echoing around the arena. 

No, it wasn't Thomas' big day. No, he didn't miss.

The tune may have sufficiently unsettled the Jaguars as a unit, however, as the Crusaders managed to secure a 59-55 First Four victory over Southern.

Sounds like the perfect present for any Holy Cross fan actually celebrating the anniversary of their birth.