LANSING, March 16, 2000 – It’s been quite a week for Ypsilanti resident Jesse Smith; the lucky man said he’s been a bundle of excitement since learning he’s the latest Michigan Lottery top prize winner!

Smith correctly matched the first five numbers in the March 7 Big Game drawing to win the game’s $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 04, 16, 30, 44, 49 and the Big Money Ball number was 29.

"I went to a store to check my ticket and already knew I had matched at least two numbers," said Smith during his recent visit to Michigan Lottery headquarters in Lansing.

"When I gave my ticket to the clerk, he got very excited and said, ‘You have five numbers!’ I dropped down on one knee and really thought I was going to pass out," said Smith. "I just couldn’t sleep after that and haven’t slept since! I think I’m just in shock."

Smith purchased the winning ticket at Northside Food & Drug, 1768 Plymouth Road, in Ann Arbor. He said his winning wager was comprised of his "own set of random numbers."

A regular Michigan Lottery player since 1972, Smith said he is still thinking about what to do with his Big Game winnings. He offered the following advice to other Lottery hopefuls: "Good luck and stick with it; if you keep playing long enough, you’ll win."

The Big Game is a multistate lottery game played in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Tickets are available at more than 6,400 retailer locations throughout Michigan.

The next Big Game drawing is Friday, March 17, with an expected jackpot of $12 million.