UMass has announced that a student will receive the $10,000 prize for a halftime promotion at a women's basketball game, following a dispute with an insurance company regarding the validity of a half-court shot. The student, Noah Lee, was selected for the contest that required him to make a layup, free throw, 3-pointer, and half-court shot in 25 seconds. Despite successfully completing all the shots, the insurance company handling the promotion initially declined the payout.
UMass stated that after reviewing the footage from four camera angles, the insurance company determined that the half-court shot was disqualified as it was not taken from behind the half-court line. In response, UMass decided to award Noah Lee with the $10,000 prize along with additional UMass athletics benefits.
However, the insurance company, Odds On Promotions, mentioned that UMass proceeded with its decision without filing a formal claim. The company clarified that the 30-day claim verification process had not been completed, and no decision had been made regarding the prize money.
UMass Athletic Director Ryan Bamford assured that Noah Lee would receive the $10,000 prize, either through the insurance company or directly from the university. The decision to ensure Lee received the prize was supported by various individuals, including men's basketball coach Frank Martin.
Ultimately, UMass Athletics took the initiative to resolve the situation and ensure that Noah Lee was rightfully awarded the prize for his impressive performance during the halftime promotion at the women's basketball game.
