Mega Millions jackpot biggest in 18 months

Six New Jersey tickets hit for $250,000 Friday night, while the Mega Millions jackpot rose to a whopping $252 million.

It's the game's biggest since February 2008, when it reached $275 million and a Georgia ticket won.

Only eight jackpots have grown larger since Mega Millions began in 2002.

New Jersey is the only state to win a share of three of them. In 2007, Cape May County tickets won half of a record $390 million jackpot and a quarter of a $330 million prize. In 2005, a Rutherford, N.J., couple claimed a $258 million prize.

No one hit all the numbers drawn Friday - 9, 38, 44, 48 and 49, with Mega Ball of 13 - but two dozen tickets matched the first five, winning $250,000 each.

California had four, and New York and Georgia three apiece, while Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Virginia each had two.

So close - but none chose "unlucky" 13 for the Mega Ball.

Mega Millions is played in 12 states.

Powerball. After stirring up lots of excitement with a $260 million prize last week, Powerball came back down to earth, as a single South Carolina matched all of Wednesday's numbers.

No word yet from whoever bought the big ticket at a gas station convenience store next to a a Wal-Mart in Columbia.

The jackpot stands at $25 million for this Wednesday's drawing, because no one hit all the numbers drawn Saturday night. They were 3, 6, 20, 32 and 51, with a Powerball of 23. The Power Play multiplier option was 5.

One ticket sold in Connecticut won $1 million for having the first five numbers plus the Power Play.

Florida and North Carolina each sold one ticket worth $200,000 for having the first five numbers.

Powerball is played in 30 states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware.

For more lottery information, go to www.philly.com/philly/news/lottery.