The basketball is in your hands, the score is tied and time's running out. You're about 10 feet away from the basket on the right side of the court, just outside the free-throw lane. Before the clock hits 0:00, check out new research from NC State engineers that shows whether a direct shot or a bank shot has a better chance of scoring your team a postgame victory celebration.
Pay attention, Shaq: Two NC State engineers have figured out the best way to shoot a free throw - a frequently underappreciated skill that gets more important as the game clock winds down. For the rest of us, it's an opportunity to learn how to leave the bricks on the Brickyard and delve into the physics of a successful free throw.