UMass Student Wins $10K Half-Court Shot, Controversy Emerges Following Insurance Company's Refusal to Pay
A student supposedly won $10K during a halftime challenge, but was later told he would not be receiving the prize money from the insurance company.
UMass Amherst student Noah Lee upstaged the action on the court at halftime on Wednesday evening's women's basketball game.
Lee was chosen randomly to take part in a $10,000 prize contest. The task: Make a lay-up, a free throw, a three-pointer, and a half-court shot, all in 30 seconds. Against the odds, Lee made every shot.
«He hit the shot, and we just started freaking out,» said Schreiber.
His roommate, Josh Schreiber, videotaped the amazing moment, which soon went viral. But the celebration didn't last long. On Thursday, Lee said UMass Athletics told him that their insurance partner would not be paying out the prize.
The insurance company claimed Lee's foot was past the half-court line
They claimed that Lee's foot was in front of the half-court line, which Lee doesn't believe is accurate.
«Instead of the $10,000, they offered me some consolations prizes of some tickets, a gift card, and a swag bag,» said Lee.
«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,» said Schreiber. «It's a hard thing to tell.»
Lee plans to appeal the decision, as he felt he had clearly won the competition. Bigger than that, though, is the lesson in all of this for him: Despite all odds, take the shot.
UMass Athletics and their insurance company were contacted for comment on this matter, but they have yet to respond back.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Martin Necas | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Matthew Tkachuk | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Brayden Point | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Nathan MacKinnon | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Matvei Michkov | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Zachary Bolduc | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jakob Chychrun | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Cale Makar | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Aleksander Barkov | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Taylor Raddysh | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mike Amadio | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Rasmus Andersson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Erik Cernak | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mitchell Chaffee | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Lawson Crouse | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Justin Danforth | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Lars Eller | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Capitals | 54 | 36 | 11 | 7 | 79 | |
Jets | 55 | 38 | 14 | 3 | 79 | |
Oilers | 54 | 34 | 16 | 4 | 72 | |
Golden Knights | 55 | 32 | 17 | 6 | 70 | |
Stars | 53 | 34 | 18 | 1 | 69 | |
Panthers | 56 | 33 | 20 | 3 | 69 | |
Maple Leafs | 54 | 33 | 19 | 2 | 68 | |
Hurricanes | 55 | 32 | 19 | 4 | 68 | |
Wild | 55 | 32 | 19 | 4 | 68 | |
Avalanche | 56 | 32 | 22 | 2 | 66 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||