From the highest high to the lowest low. That has to describe life right now for a West Chester University student who, during a halftime basketball promotion, made a layup, a free throw, a three-pointer and a half-court shot ... only to come up short in his quest for $10,000 because of some fine print.

See, he made those first three shots in a row, then missed his first attempt at a half-court shot. He scrambled to get the ball back, and made a heave at the buzzer ... but it apparently didn't count. He needed to make all four shots in 25 seconds without a miss.

Lame. Per NBC Philadelphia:

"This is really tough for me honestly. After all that celebration, they told me I'm not going to get it. I feel a little hurt," said finance major Jack Lavery, 18. "No one from West Chester has even reached out to me yet."

The bad news came moments after the cheers. West Chester University officials told Lavery he won't take home the $10,000 prize because he didn't make the first half court shot attempt.

"We are hopeful that the university will award him with $10,000 for his unbelievable feat like they promised," said Bill Lavery, Jack's father. "We kind of feel a little let down. They made him believe he won after the shot. It's kind of frustrating."

Here's the video, if you'd like to relive his pain: