Ronald Bryant of Tarboro can do some home renovations after a $5 scratch-off won him a $250,000 top prize.

“My house needs some work so I can use this to help with that,” he said.

Bryant bought his lucky 20X The Cash ticket from C&S Food Mart on North Main Street in Tarboro. He then took it home to scratch it.

“I looked at it and said, ‘I don’t believe this. This can’t be true,’” Bryant recalled after seeing how much he won.

Even though Bryant had trouble processing his big win, he said he had always had faith it would happen.

“I always felt that one day I was going to get it,” Bryant said.

He arrived at lottery headquarters Thursday to claim his prize and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $179,376.

The 20X The Cash game debuted in February with eight top prizes of $250,000. Six $250,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

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.