A UMass fan named Noah appeared to win $10,000 at a women’s college basketball game on Wednesday night. However, the university (through its insurance partner) is refusing to pay him the money because of a technicality.
His foot was on the line…
UPDATE: UMass is stepping up in a BIG way to pay the fan! Shoutout to the Minutemen for doing the right thing even though its evil insurance partner will not! (FULL DETAILS HERE)
Noah was selected at random from the crowd to partake in an in-game promotion. The premise is simple. You have likely seen it before. The fan is presented the opportunity to make a layup, a free throw, a three-pointer and a half-court shot in 30 seconds and win a prize. On Wednesday, that prize was $10k.
Noah did not need 30 seconds to complete the challenge. He made the layup, free throw and three-pointer on his first three shots. He also drained one from half court on his first attempt. It was a win.
MY FRIEND JUST DID THIS FOR $10k AT THE @UMassWBB GAME!!!#SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/czpu4jSNXf
— Josh Schreiber (@Jschreiber272) February 6, 2025
Or was it?
Odds On Promotions is the insurance provider for UMass’ in-game contests. The company is responsible for paying out the money because the university purchased an insurance package to avoid this exact situation. Here is how it works:
According to Odds On Promotions, Noah’s win does not count because his foot was on the line when he shot from the half court line. It is not going to pay him the $10,000.
Josh Schreiber serves as the broadcast voice of UMass Women’s Basketball. He says that Noah was not informed prior to the contest that his foot could not be on the line.
All he was told was he had 30 seconds to make a layup, free throw, 3 ptr, and half court shot
— Josh Schreiber
Odds On Promotions does not care what Noah was or was not told beforehand. It is not going to pay him because his foot was on the line.
His foot was not past the line. While that would be unfortunate, it would at least make sense. A half-court shot is not a true half-court shot if any part of the foot is past the line. Most people would agree that a half-court shot is still from half court if the entire foot is not past the line.
Odds On Promotions disagrees. Noah is not getting paid the $10,000 even though, based on what we know about the contest, he won fair and square.
Instead, UMass offered him a compensatory package valued at no more than $500.
- Tickets for a four-person loge suite at a select men’s basketball game of your choise this season.
- In addition, we would like to have you be a participant in the on-court hot shot shooting contest at the game you select. The prizes include various gifts for making a layup, free throw three pointer along with a half court shot that is worth $1,000 if you make it. Similarly to the promo you participated in, there will be a time limitation, one attempt at the half court shot if you make the other shots, etc.
- A pair of courtside seats at a select women’s basketball game of your choice this season.
- $100 in gift cards for Mullins Center concessions to be used at the basketball games you attend.
- A swag bag of UMass gear. Actual items are to be determined depending on your sizes and available inventory. Please provide me with you shirt and shoe sizes and we will put together a gift basket for you.
To be fair — UMass is not really at fault here. It bought an insurance policy for its in-game promotions because it does not have $10,000 lying around. Odds On Promotions is the real enemy.
Still, the compensatory package offered to Noah by the university is pretty weak. All parties involved needs to do better.