RALEIGH – Bryan McMasters of Durham claimed his share of a $520,734 Cash 5 jackpot on Wednesday, just two weeks before the ticket was set to expire.

McMasters was one of three players to match all five numbers in the Aug. 8, 2014 drawing. He learned of his $173,578 win that evening when he checked the numbers on his Quick Pick ticket against those on the lottery’s website.

“I was traveling to South Carolina to visit family and I had stopped for gas in Asheboro,” McMasters said. “I saw that the jackpot was over half a million dollars, so I decided to try my luck. I’m glad I did. It feels pretty cool to win.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, McMasters collected a check for $120,204. Winners have 180 days to claim their prizes. McMasters’ ticket was scheduled to expire at 5 p.m., Feb. 4.

McMasters came to Raleigh to claim his prize the same day the Education Lottery began an effort to try and find the winner.

“When I won, I knew I wanted to take my time and make sure I knew exactly what I was going to do with the money,” McMasters said. “I’m going to save it for retirement.”

The ticket, sold at the Quik Chek on Sunset Avenue in Asheboro, beat odds of 1 in 575,757 to win. The winning numbers for the drawing were 5 - 13 - 21 - 24 – 33. The other two $173,578 shares were claimed by a player in Greenville and another in Fayetteville.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion for the state last year. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Durham County and Randolph County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.