UMass Student Awarded $10K After Half-Court Shot Initially Disqualified

The university stepped in to honor the prize after an insurance company denied the payout over a technicality.

Noah Lee, a senior at UMass Amherst, made a half-court shot during a halftime contest, initially winning a $10,000 prize.
The university's insurance partner, Odds On Promotions, refused to pay the prize, citing that Lee's foot was on the half-court line, disqualifying the shot.
UMass Amherst faced public backlash after the disqualification, with widespread support for Lee on social media.
The university announced it would honor the $10,000 prize directly, regardless of the insurer's decision, and also offered additional benefits to Lee.
Lee plans to use the money to pay off student loans and expressed gratitude for the support he received during the ordeal.