SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford men's basketball alum
Justin Gordon '16 won the British Basketball League Cup Final MVP award on Sunday, Jan. 24, posting a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds to help power the Newcastle Eagles' franchise to its seventh national cup title.
The Eagles defeated the London Lions, 84-77, for the franchise's fifth Cup in the last decade, as Gordon's 15 rebounds in the contest also set a BBL Cup Final record.
"I can't even describe it right now, I'm just happy to enjoy this moment with my teammates," said Gordon after winning the award in his first season in the BBL. "It was a crazy game, but we stuck it out and got the win."
Gordon and the Newcastle Eagles celebrate the seventh franchise BBL National Cup title. (Credit: Mansoor Ahmed/Ahmed Photos)
"I wish the fans could be here to enjoy this with us, but it's a tough situation," added Gordon. "We just have to enjoy it how we can, get their response on social media. We appreciate their support so, everyone back home, we thank you and we're bringing this home for you all."
Gordon, a native of Charlotte, N.C., was big on both ends of the floor for the Eagles, scoring 14 first-half points prior to a sequence of critical plays down the stretch that was crucial in securing the win.
Gordon tied the game at 76 with a corner 3-pointer heading into the final three minutes and then, with 40 seconds left, Gordon grabbed his record-breaking rebound at the offensive end to set up an Eagles' score that made for a two-possession game in Newcastle's favor. He also tallied three assists and three blocks in the Final, as two of his blocks also came in the fourth period.
A member of Wofford's back-to-back SoCon champion teams in 2014 and 2015, Gordon averaged 11.6 points and 4.2 rebounds his senior year. Gordon reached double figures in 21 games during the 2015-16 season, including netting a career-high 25 points against Mercer (Feb. 11, 2016).
Additionally, Gordon was a consistent contributor to Wofford's 2014 and 2015 NCAA Tournament teams, as he finished second on the team with eight points on 4-of-5 shots against Michigan in the first round in 2014 (Mar. 20, 2014) and started and played 21 minutes in the first round against Arkansas in 2015 (Mar. 19, 2015), collecting seven rebounds, a block and scoring three points.
