UMass student's half-court shot for $10,000 overturned by replay
AMHERST - A UMass Amherst senior thought he won a $10,000 prize after hitting a half-court shot during a halftime challenge at a basketball game, but the school said replay proved otherwise.
UPDATE (2/7): UMass said Friday that it has decided to give the student his $10,000 award. Click here to read more.
Noah Lee, a UMass Amherst senior from Wayland, was stunned Wednesday when he was randomly picked for a $10,000 series shootout during halftime of the women's basketball game.
"I was told to take one dribble, that's when the clock would start," Lee said. "I would have to hit a layup, a free throw, a 3-pointer and a half-court shot. All within 30 seconds."
UMass half-court shot challenge controversy
"That half-court shot when I put it up, I knew it kind of had a chance, I never expected it to go in!" Lee said.
The crowd inside the Mullins Center erupted, when it did.
But Noah's victory lap was cut short. Replay showed his foot was on the half-court line during that long shot, forcing a turnover of the big prize.
"I was getting texts from people like 'oh my God that's incredible, congrats.,' And then now them all texting me like 'oh my gosh that sucks! I'm really sorry!'" Lee said.
Consolation offer from UMass basketball
UMass Athletics came back with a consolation prize, a 4-person suite for a men's game, courtside seats to cheer the women, food, and a swag bag. But it's no $10,000, which Noah had planned to put toward school loans and fun.
