Insurer Won't Pay Fan After Half-Court Shot Win Because Foot Was On Line

After competing in a halftime shooting contest on Wednesday at the University of Massachusetts, a senior has been told he will not receive the payout since the company says his foot was on the line.

"We obviously were very, very angry," Josh Schrieber, an announcer for the UMass women's basketball team, who originally posted the video of Noah Lee, told Newsweek. "I wasn't even thinking it would matter if his foot would have to be on the line."

Newsweek also reached out to UMass Amherst and Odds On Promotions.

Why It Matters

The public has felt dissatisfied with the insurance industry for years. While many fingers are pointed at the health care system with a YouGov poll from December found that 49 percent of Americans are unfavorable of it, many have said that insurance companies prioritize profits over people. These feelings have even led to public displays of dissent, such as by Luigi Mangione who allegedly murdered United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Lee's competition was part of the UMass Minutewomen's 81-54 win over St. Bonaventure's Bonnies on Wednesday.

What To Know

Noah Lee was approached at the end of the first quarter by a UMass promoter "completely at random," he told Newsweek.

"I was extremely grateful that I was chosen at random," Lee told Newsweek. "I'm not one to seek that out. This was kind of a shot in the dark for me. I pushed myself."

Lee had to make a layup, a free throw, a three-pointer and a half-court shot in under 30 seconds to receive a grand prize.

"I wasn't too nervous," Lee told Newsweek. That first shot, making that lay-up was getting the pressure off myself."

He made each shot on the first try, as seen in a video posted by Schreiber, an announcer for the UMass women's basketball team.

"MY FRIEND JUST DID THIS FOR $10k AT THE @UMassWBB GAME!!!" Schreiber posted.

Shortly after the four shots, Lee and Schreiber were celebrating with another friend when someone from UMass approached them with a form to sign. Schreiber told Newsweek the person laid out the rules and said the "insurance company is super strict" so they wanted Lee to "manage his expectations."

"We were like, 'Oh, God, how is the insurance company going to ruin this?'" Schreiber told Newsweek.

Lee called the moment "a little weird." He said that when he found out that the insurance company wouldn't pay the $10,000 prize it was "definitely surreal."

Schreiber and Lee told Newsweek that Lee was not told that his foot could not be on the line prior to the competition.

"I didn't find out until after about the rules," Lee said.

"I don't know if that was ill-intentioned or anything," Schreiber said. "Who knows what it was."

Odds On Promotions is based in Nevada and sponsors contests at games and events throughout the country.

"For a small fee, you can offer fabulous prizes worth millions of dollars and if you have a winner, we pay for the prize," the company's site reads.

But now the director of athletics at UMass is trying to make things right. Lee said UMass is receiving a lot of "undeserved" heat for the situation since it was not up to the school if he would get the prize or not.

The college offered a consolation prize, which included a swag bag of gear, $100 in gift cards to the Mullins Center for concessions at a basketball game, a pair of courtside seats at a women's basketball game and tickets to a four-person loge suite at a men's basketball game.

"Noah was very grateful that they even offered anything because technically they didn't have to but obviously still angry with the insurance company," Schreiber told Newsweek.

Ryan Bamford, the director of athletics at UMass, and Frank Martin, the head coach for the university's men's basketball team, also talked with Lee on Friday about still providing him with the $10,000 prize. Schreiber said he is not clear where the money would be coming from.

"It's huge honestly. It's really cool of them to do," Schreiber said. "They didn't have to do it."

What People Are Saying

Noah Lee told Newsweek: "It's going to be a lifelong memory for me, Josh and our other roommate that was there"

Josh Schreiber, who posted the video of Noah Lee, on X:"I hate that my school got so much negative attention for something that was not their fault

"At the end of the day I'm gonna do whatever I can for my best friend to get what he deserves!!

"GO UMASS AND SUPPORT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL".

UMass Dynasty on X: "Shame on @PrizeInsurance for not paying Noah his $10K.

"Even if his foot was over the line, he CLEARLY still had time to attempt another shot.

"Also the prizes UMass is offering doesn't even total $500 in value, and students already go to games for free."

Eli Slovin, who was previously a part of the Barstool Sports that covers UMass Amherst, on X: "UMass giving a nice (emoji of a middle finger) to the insurance company here, love to see it."

Ryan Bamford, the director of athletics at the University of Massachusetts, on X: "For all those wondering, we're working on getting $10K to Noah. If we can't get to a good result via the insurance company, we will pay him directly. We appreciate his support of @UMassAthletics & want to reward his fun accomplishment the other night at our @UMassWBB game."

WBZ-TV anchor Dan Roche on X: "This story is hard to fathom! Noah crushed this! Period! And again - it had nothing to do with the @UMassWBB program. This is on the insurance company. I hope a wrong is made right AND I hope Noah also gets the other prizes as well."

What's Next

Lee told Newsweek that Bamford told him the school wants "to do what's right and make sure you're honored with this $10,000." Lee said he is offered to take the consolation prize in addition as well.