AMES, Iowa (AP) — Former “Saturday Night Live” actor Tim Meadows made a surprise appearance before Iowa State’s basketball game against Kansas — playing Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson. Meadows showed up at half court roughly 90 minutes before tip-off in Ames, Iowa. The public address announcer introduced him as Carson, and Meadows proceeded to sing the national anthem in the neurosurgeon’s voice.

The only fans in the building were in the student section — and they had no idea Meadows would be making an appearance. But by the end of “The Star Spangled Banner” many of them were singing along. Meadows told The Associated Press that he was shooting a comedy sketch for the Funny Or Die website, adding that he planned to film additional segments Tuesday.