Contestant to Get Full Prize

Aaron Burgin, a USC sophomore who thought he won a $10,000 scholarship for winning a basketball-shooting contest before being told he had won nothing because his feet were over the line, will be receiving the full amount after all.

SCA Promotions, a Dallas-based firm which sponsored the contest, offered Burgin $2,500 as a good-faith gesture on Thursday and he accepted. But the company had a change of heart and has express-mailed a check for $10,000 to USC that should arrive Monday.

“The last few days have been amazing,” Burgin said Saturday. “I’m utterly stunned. I believe that God works in really mysterious ways and if you remain patient and just act accordingly ... things will come your way.

“I’m just happy. I just have a big smile on my face.”

SCA Promotions President Bob Hamman said his firm would pay the money out of its pocket, rather than out of its prize chest.

“He didn’t make the shot, but I like the way he handled it,” Hamman said of Burgin, who embarked on a letter-writing and e-mail campaign after being told he was disqualified. “He appears to be a needy guy. We can’t look to our risk takers [to pay it off], but that’s OK.”

Burgin made four shots--a layup, a free throw, a three-point shot and one from half court--in 25 seconds at halftime of USC’s game against UC Santa Barbara at the Sports Arena on Nov. 26. But a video revealed he had a foot over the line on the three-point attempt and both feet were over at half court.