LANSING, July 9, 2002 – G.H. Miskel of Muskegon simply could not believe his good fortune when he learned he had matched the first five numbers drawn in the July 5 Mega Millions drawing to win a $175,000 prize! The winning numbers for the July 5 drawing were: 11, 20, 26, 29, 41 and the Gold Mega Ball number was 41.

The winning Mega Millions ticket was purchased at Norton Shores E-Z Mart, 3416 Henry St., in Muskegon.

"I picked up a winning number report from a local store, and when I returned home I compared the report to the numbers on my ticket," Miskel said. "I was so surprised to see that I had matched the first five numbers. I checked my ticket over and over again, and just kept saying, ‘I don’t believe it!’"

Miskel, a regular Lottery player for the past three years, chose his winning number combination using a set of personal lucky numbers. He said he kept the winning ticket in a drawer in his home before turning it in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing. Miskel added that he plans to use his winnings to make home improvements and purchase a new car.

The lucky man offered some words of encouragement to other Lottery players. "Stick with the numbers you like, you never know when they will be drawn!"

The last Big Game drawing took place on Tuesday, May 14. On Wednesday, May 15, The Big Game was replaced by Mega Millions. Mega Millions is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Mega Millions drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Mega Millions drawing is tonight, Tuesday, July 9, with an estimated jackpot of $115 million. For more information about Mega Millions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s Web site, www.michigan.gov/lottery.

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