Maurice Fleming of Edenton said a lucky feeling led him to a $150,000 lottery prize.

“Something just told me to play,” Fleming said. “I figured why not take a chance?”

He did, and on Thursday afternoon he stopped by the Broad Street Mart on North Broad Street in Edenton and bought a $500 Cash scratch-off ticket.

“That was also because of a feeling,” Fleming said. “I don’t normally play the older tickets.”

He took the $5 ticket home, sat down, and started scratching.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw it,” Fleming said. “I almost fell out of my chair.”

Fleming claimed his prize Friday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $104,253. He plans to use some of the money to get a new pair of jeans and tennis shoes. He plans to use the rest of the money to help his family.

Since Fleming won the last top prize, the lottery will begin steps to end the game.

Ticket sales from instant games like $500 Cash make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.