LANSING, October 19, 2001 – Joseph Fountaine of Pontiac has a little more money in his pockets after matching the first five numbers in the October 9 Big Game drawing, to win a $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 13, 17, 21, 26, 34 and the Big Money Ball number was 5.

The lucky man purchased the winning “easy pick” ticket at M&S Mobil Mart Inc., 1489 E. Maple Road, in Troy.

Fountaine, 42, was very surprised to learn he had won the $150,000 prize.

“I looked up the winning numbers on the lottery’s Web site (www.state.mi.us/milottery) and was shocked,” Foutaine said. “One of my co-workers told me to ‘calm down’ because we were at work, but I was so excited I couldn’t calm down! I still can’t believe I won the $150,000 prize!”

The winner said he plans to use his winnings to pay bills and have “a little fun.” He said he kept the winning ticket with him at all times prior to turning it in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing.

He offered the following words of encouragement to other Lottery hopefuls: “Don’t stop playing-you never know who the next winner will be!”

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 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is tonight, Friday, October 19, with a guaranteed jackpot of $5 million.

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