As part of a common promotional event, one college student drained a basket from half-court at an Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game, but he played for his school's team on a partial scholarship and almost had to give back the prize money.

The National Association for Collegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced Tuesday that Cameron Rodriguez, a forward for Southwestern College in Kansas, could keep his prize money to use it as scholarship aid. According to the Associated Press, the NAIA was originally not going to let him keep the prize money and his partial scholarship due student-athlete amateur rules.

Rodriguez made the $20,000 shot Nov. 18 and the school appealed the NAIA's decision on the 23-year-old's behalf. In the appeal, they asked if Rodriguez could accept the prize as a scholarship, which the NAIA approved.

"We're pleased with the decision from the membership and specifically the [national eligibility committee] that allows Cameron to keep his winnings to use toward his education," Jim Carr, NAIA president and CEO, told the AP.

Rodriguez, however, was ready to leave the prize money and hope it could be donated to a charity or nonprofit of some sort.

"In my eyes, it's just money," Rodriguez, told the AP in late Nov. "I know I'm a college kid who can use some help, but my love for basketball and my passion for the sport - it's worth more to me than $20,000."

His scholarship is for athletics and only covers part of his tuition, so Rodriguez would not be allowed to accept outside payment in order to preserve his amateur status.

According to the Thunder organization, Rodriguez is one of eight people to make the basket in any of the 231 home games in which the promotion was offered. The prize money for the promotion is sponsored by a local bank.