A UMass student’s half-court shot victory turned controversial when the prize was initially withheld, but the university stepped up to honor the win.
At a Glance
- UMass student Noah Lee completed a series of basketball shots to win a $10,000 prize
- The promotions company rescinded the prize, claiming Noah’s foot was on the line during the half-court shot
- UMass decided to honor the $10,000 prize despite the company’s decision
- The university will provide Noah with the $10,000 and additional athletic benefits
- The controversy gained national attention, with major sports outlets covering the story
Student’s Half-Court Shot Sparks Controversy
The University of Massachusetts Amherst found itself at the center of a heated debate following a women’s basketball game halftime contest. Noah Lee, a UMass student, completed a challenging series of basketball shots, including a layup, free throw, 3-pointer, and half-court shot within 25 seconds, seemingly winning a $10,000 prize. However, the celebration quickly turned to controversy when the promotions company overseeing the contest rescinded the prize.
The company claimed that Noah’s foot was on the line during the half-court shot, disqualifying him from the prize. This decision sparked outrage among fans and garnered national attention, with major sports outlets picking up the story. The incident highlighted the fine line between rules and sportsmanship, leaving many questioning the fairness of such contests.
UMass Takes a Stand
In a show of support for their student, UMass Amherst officials decided to honor the $10,000 prize despite the promotions company’s ruling. Ryan Bamford, UMass’s Director of Athletics, took to social media to address the situation and affirm the university’s commitment to rewarding Noah’s accomplishment.
“For all those wondering, we’re working on getting $10K to Noah. If we can’t get to a good result via the insurance company, we will pay him directly. We appreciate his support of UMass athletics & want to reward his fun accomplishment the other night at our women’s basketball game,” Bamford said.
Insurance Company’s Stance
The insurance company, Odds On Promotions, found itself in the middle of the controversy. According to their statement, they had not completed their standard 30-day claim verification process and stated that no formal claim was filed by the university.
“No formal claim or request for prize money was made by the University to Odds On in this matter. Odds On was not involved in the initial invalidation of the contest win and only became aware of the University’s decision to not pay the contestant through media coverage,” Odds On Promotions said.
This statement raises questions about the communication between the university, the promotions company, and the insurance provider, highlighting the complexities involved in such promotional contests.
Positive Outcome and Community Support
The controversy ultimately led to a positive outcome for Noah Lee. UMass Athletics released a statement supporting Noah and criticizing the initial disqualification decision. The university not only decided to award the $10,000 prize but also promised additional athletic benefits to the student.
“We appreciate Noah taking part in the series shootout promotion at our recent women’s basketball game and applaud his efforts. After the contest, we informed Noah we would share the footage with our insurance partner as the next step,” UMass Athletics said.
