Villanova celebrates Kyle Lowry's NBA Championship victory

VILLANOVA, Pa. (WPVI) -- Villanova University is celebrating because one of their own is an NBA Champion.

The Toronto Raptors won their first national championship in franchise history Thursday night, defeating the Golden State Warriors 114-110 in Game 6.

Former Nova star and North Philadelphia native Kyle Lowry scored the game's first eight points.

He finished with 26 in all to go with 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Fans poured into the streets in Toronto, screaming and honking horns after the Raptors pulled off a third straight win on Golden State's home floor that said goodbye to NBA basketball after 47 seasons.

But it wasn't just the neighbors to the north who were cheering.

Villanova basketball players from the past and present posted their congrats to Lowry on social media following the win.

Head coach Jay Wright wrote "A special moment for a special competitor ! Congratulations @Klow7- well deserved - very proud !!! #OnceAWildcatAlwaysAWildcat."

Ryan Arcidiacono, who won a National Championship with Villanova and is now a member of the Chicago Bulls, tweeted, "Congrats @Klow7! #NovaNation."

Villanova Men's Basketball sent out a celebratory image showing Lowry in a jersey - half Toronto - half Villanova.

"Congratulations @Klow7 and the @Raptors!!! #OnceAWildcatAlwaysAWildcat," they tweeted.

Darrun Hillard II, who played for Villanova from 2011 to 2015 before being selected by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Draft, tweeted, "Cuz, salute yo! @Klow7."

JayVaughn Pinkston, who played the same years at Nova with Hillard, tweeted, "Congrats big dawg @Klow7."

Allan Ray, who was a Wildcat form 2002 to 2006 and played a season with the Boston Celtics, said, "Let's gooooooooo."

The Villanova Athletics Twitter account also had a message for the Raptor's point guard: "Congratulations to our very own @Klow7 2019 @NBA CHAMPION!"

Lowry attended Cardinal Doughtery High School. He went to Villanova for two years before declaring for the 2006 NBA draft where he was selected No. 24 by the Memphis Grizzlies.

He played for the Grizzlies for three seasons then was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2009.

In 2012, he was traded to the Raptors.

Lowry's hot start was almost fitting. It was the Toronto guard who got shoved on the sideline in Game 3 by Warriors minority owner Mark Stevens, now banned by the league and team for a year.

The Raptors, in their 24th season of existence, rallied from two games down to beat the Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals then took down the mighty Warriors on their home floor to deny Golden State a three-peat.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.