Mark Richards of Hickory will pay for his son’s college tuition with his $320,722 Cash 5 jackpot win.

“This is very good timing for us,” he said.

Richards bought his lucky $1 Quick Pick ticket from Total Convenience Market on U.S. 70 SW in Hickory.

“It’s funny I actually stopped at a store I’ve never been to before,” Richards recalled.

His ticket matched all five numbers in Friday’s drawing to win the jackpot. The odds of matching numbers on all five balls are 1 in 962,598.

“I checked and I checked and I checked,” Richards laughed. “It was surreal.”

Richards claimed his winnings at lottery headquarters on Wednesday and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $230,119.

“This is important for our family,” he said. “I guess it’s just one of those things that can happen at any time.”

Cash 5 is one of six lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying their tickets at a retail location or with Online Play through the lottery’s website or the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Wednesday’s jackpot is $146,000.

The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program helps North Carolinians make the most of their lottery play. Visit ncplaysmart.com to learn about all things lottery, from tips on how odds work to how to enter bonus drawings. If you or someone you know needs support, visit morethanagame.nc.gov/ for free, confidential help.