MOORHEAD, Minn. - - The Minnesota State University Moorhead Athletics Department and Valley Imports have brought fans a show stopping halftime promotion for the last three years, and they have something unprecedented planned for the fourth.

The first year of halftime promotions gave twelve lucky fans the chance to win a new car.  No one won, but Valley Imports surprised everyone by giving one of the contestants a free one-year lease on the vehicle.  Year two was the vacation giveaway where and the winner took himself and his girlfriend to sunny Jamaica. The third contest was last year's Season of Cash where a fan took home a cool $4,500 in cold hard cash and over $1,000 in cash was given away at athletics events.

This year's Valley Imports halftime promotion is titled U-Turn & WIN and will take place at each home men's basketball conference game (11 total).  At each of those games, one fan will be drawn at random for a chance to win a brand new car.  The constant will have to make a shoot-turn-shoot format shot in order to win.  This means that they will be able to pick any spot on the court, and if they make that shot, he or she must then turn around and make a shot from the same spot on the opposite hoop.  

The catch for the U-Turn & WIN is a good one.  Every contest will feature a car of greater value than the previous contest.  There will be four $20,000 cars, four $30,000 cars, and last four events of the year will feature cars of $35,000, $40,000, $45,000 and ending with a $50,000 Mercedes Benz ML350 at Fill the Fieldhouse on February 22nd.

As stated before, contestants will be selected at random and all a qualifying constant has to do is register at the marketing table when entering the fieldhouse.  Qualifying constants must meet the following criteria:
-Must not be previously chosen for the same promotion.
-Was not allowed any practice shots, warm-up, or qualifying shots.
-Cannot be a current or former employee of MSUM Dragon Athletics or Valley Imports, or family members, an agent, successor, or assignee of any of the previously mentioned.
-Never have been or is currently a professional or semi-professional basketball player, nor played on a collegiate or Olympic basketball team at any level in the past six years, nor currently on a high school varsity basketball roster.
-Agree to the rules of the contest and that no part of body or clothing may come in contact with the demarcation lines prior to shooting the ball.

The Season of Cash will continue to be included at all women's basketball halftimes with the fan favorite $100 Hot Shot.  One fan will be drawn at random to take three three-point shots and if they make one, they win $100 cash from Valley Imports.  

"It's all about the fans," said assistant athletics director Jon Wepking.  "We want them to come for great basketball and a great show.  Valley Imports has taken our promotions to a higher level each and every year and we appreciate their continued support of us and making gameday more exciting."

The contest began during Dragon Madness and the contestant chose a three-pointer to start, but unfortuneatly missed.