BBL Cup final: Newcastle Eagles 115-94 Plymouth Raiders

Smith landed five three-pointers in his record points haul

Newcastle Eagles posted a record points score in a BBL Cup final as they eased to a 115-94 victory over Plymouth Raiders at the NIA.

It was an entertaining game in which previous BBL Cup final records tumbled.

Newcastle guard forward Charles Smith, who was named most valuable player, set an individual points record with 39.

The Eagles pulled away in the second period and, though the Raiders clawed their way back to within 10 points, they could not keep up the pace.

The opening quarter was all about veteran Smith, who single-handedly - and while missing a contact lens - outscored the Raiders with 21 points as the stanza ended 35-20 to the Championship leaders.

Both offences were working well - with Jeremy Bell and Lehmon Colbert particularly effective for Plymouth - but the Eagles took control in the second quarter as the Raiders' foul count climbed.

The first half finished 63-46 to Newcastle and when the teams took to the court again Paul Gause (who finished with 24 points) and Joe Chapman were at the heart of their best play.

Plymouth centre Paul Williams was fouled out of the game on a technical foul for arguing with the officials with his team 79-60 down and the Devon side's fate looked sealed. Colbert finished with 25 points and Bell chipped in with 23.

The third quarter ended 94-74 but by then Newcastle had done enough to ensure last season's disappointing silverware drought - their first in seven seasons - would not be repeated this term.