Pizza Hut is stepping in to pay prize money to an 18-year-old who made a halfcourt shot at his university’s basketball game — and then found out that he hadn’t followed the rules of the contest.

Jack Lavery was chosen at random to participate in a $10,000 challenge put on by West Chester University earlier this month. He made a lay-up, a three-point shot and a half-court shot before the buzzer went off. Immediately, he celebrated winning the money.

But Lavery hadn’t won the money. School officials said the contest rules clearly stated that the shots had to be made on the first try — meaning that even though the contest hadn’t been stopped, Lavery didn’t win and couldn’t collect the prize.

The school said despite the bad feelings about the contest, their insurance policy wouldn’t allow them to pay up.

After the story went national, Pizza Hut stepped forward to offer Lavery a year’s-worth supply of pizza and the $10,000 check.

“We’d seriously like to offer you $10,000, plus free pizza for a year. No strings attached. You epitomize greatness,” the chain’s PR director wrote in an email, according to local TV station ABC 6.