LANSING, March 31, 2000 — Sammy Culberson of Saginaw knew he had won something on The Big Game ticket he purchased — he just wasn’t sure how much! Culberson matched the first five numbers in the March 24 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 14, 31, 42, 46, 50 and the Big Money Ball number was 28.

"I checked for the winning numbers in the Saginaw News on Saturday morning while at work," Culberson said. "I checked to see if I had matched the gold ball first. Once I saw I hadn’t matched that I wasn’t very excited. I checked the rest of the ticket and found out I had matched five numbers.

I didn’t know how much money I had won. One of my co-workers said he thought matching five numbers paid $50,000. The more I checked around I discovered that matching five numbers actually pays $150,000! I was really excited when I found that out."

The 49-year-old winner said he enjoys playing Michigan Lottery games in his free time. He added that he has been playing Lottery games for the past 27 years, and his favorites are Michigan Lotto, Michigan Rolldown and, of course, The Big Game. Culberson purchased the winning Big Game ticket at Clark #1594, 5200 Dixie Hwy., in Saginaw.

The skilled trades job planner at Delphi Saginaw Steering said he will likely share part of his winnings with his family, build a winter home "down South" and make investments.

The Big Game is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is tonight (Friday), with an expected jackpot of $25 million.

###