A UMass student thought he won $10,000 during a halftime contest at a women’s basketball game, only to find out he wasn’t going to get the money over a technicality.
UMass play-by-play announcer Josh Schreiber on 91.1 FM WMUA Sports posted on X that his friend, senior Noah Lee, had won a halftime competition at Mullins Center on Wednesday night, which involved hitting a layup, a free throw, a 3-pointer and a half-court shot in under 30 seconds.
The college student completed the task — including the impressive half-court heave — and celebrated on the court, only to learn the following day that his foot had to stay behind the line on his shot.
Because it didn’t, he wouldn’t be getting the $10,000 prize.
Schreiber revealed the devastating twist in a follow-up post on X that explained that “insurance” had notified Lee that he wouldn’t be getting the money.
Lee told the Daily Collegian that he was a bit disappointed by the outcome.
“[On Thursday], I got an email from the UMass athletics representative saying that the promotion company got back to them and said my foot was on the line and they will not be paying it out, which is obviously a little disappointing,” Lee said.
“I would understand if it was well in front of the half court line, took an extra step, but at worst, he is very clearly AT half court,” Schreiber told WHDH in Boston. “It’s a hard thing to tell.”
UMass did offer some stuff to Noah for the unfortunate turn of events with the contest.
The school offered the student suite tickets to a men’s basketball game of his choice for a loge suite that seats four, a chance to participate in another contest on the court during halftime of the men’s game, a pair of courtside seats for the women’s basketball game of his choice, a $100 gift card for the concession stand at Mullins Center and a “swag bag of UMass gear.”
“Really grateful for the opportunity just to participate,” Lee told WHDH. “It was a really cool moment. A really cool experience.”
A spokesperson for the UMass women’s basketball team did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Post regarding what transpired.
OddsOn Promotions did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Schreiber did attempt to clarify in a post on X Thursday night that UMass women’s basketball was not at fault.
“They are the best, and had nothing to do with Noah not getting the money,” he wrote. “Support women’s basketball and don’t attack them for this!!”
