'Like a movie:' Milwaukee man proposes to longtime girlfriend during halftime of Bucks game

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It was a big night for fans at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday during the Milwaukee Bucks matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. 

Not only did the Bucks come out victorious marking their 14th straight win at home, but Damian Lillard scored his season high, pushing him to hit a 20,000-career point milestone, and Giannis Antetokounmpo showed out with a triple-double.

But the game also served as a night one local couple will never forget.

"It was exactly how I thought it was gonna go," said Austin Wilson.

The Milwaukee man told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White he'd been a Bucks fan for his entire life. That's why when he asked his longtime girlfriend, Sara Due, to come with him, nothing seemed out of the norm.

Little did Due know, Wilson had spent the last six weeks in preparation.

Thanks to connections from his family member who works at Bally Sports Wisconsin and his boss and boss' wife who also have connections with the team, the duo ended up courtside.

That's when Due was asked by Bucks staff to participate in a game on the floor.

"They're like all you're gonna try to do is find the pizza box, or whatever it was, and they were like, the crowd will tell you. If you're getting closer, they'll cheer you on. But if you're moving further away, they're gonna boo you so I was like, okay, that's easy enough," Due said. 

Once blindfolded, she was led onto the court.

But instead of finding the pizza box, Due found Wilson down on one knee.

"I feel like I blacked out. I saw him and I was just so excited," Wilson said. "I just zoned in on him and I heard only his words with thousands of people cheering so it was just incredible. Like literally a movie."

CONGRATS TO THIS HAPPY COUPLE?!?! ?? @Buckspic.twitter.com/VvAAptIS0I

— Ellie Nakamoto-White (@ellienw_news) December 20, 2023

Announcers over the loudspeakers were congratulating the two who were then taken off of the court so the game could resume.

“The original thought was, as you’re walking in between the aisles, I was gonna trip and fall and play it off," Wilson said laughingly. “So surreal, you don’t really realize how many people are in the stadium and cheering you on.”

And one of the best parts of the proposal?

The fact Antetokounmpo, whose jersey Wilson was wearing, was just a few steps away watching with a giant grin.

"I sent Giannis a direct message. He didn't respond, but I was like you made my entire engagement," Due said. "I'm officially a Bucks fan!"

Due, who currently works as a teacher in Chicago, said she is hopefully planning on moving to Milwaukee in the summer.

“I’d like to thank the Bucks and my boss and his wife for really setting this up and making it the best day of my life so far," Wilson said. 

Congratulations to the happy couple!