St. Catharines, ON – The regular season is now in the rearview mirror as the River Lions gear up for their biggest challenge of the season: an Eastern Conference Semi-Final matchup against the top-seeded Shooting Stars on Thursday night. Niagara enters the postseason looking to bounce back after a difficult finish to the regular season. The River Lions lost 81–76 to the Calgary Surge in their season finale, capping off a difficult two-game Western-Conference road trip where the team lost two games, bringing their record on the season to 10-14. With clean slates all around, every possession carries even greater significance as fourth-seeded Niagara travels to Scarborough with their three-peat aspirations on the line. To pull off the road upset, Niagara will need to carry forward the gritty identity they’ve played with all season and get going right out of the gate in order to push past their Eastern Conference rivals. Leading the charge is two-time Finals MVP Khalil Ahmad, who has continued to impress when the lights shine brightest. Ahmad stood out in the season finale for Niagara, contributing 21 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Alongside him, forward Nathan Cayo has solidified his role as a reliable second option, delivering 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals against the Surge. For Niagara to extend their season, Ahmad and Cayo will need to set the tone early, allowing the River Lions bench to make timely contributions when needed and control the tempo of the game. If Niagara can establish its pace early and continue sharing the basketball, they'll give themselves a chance to pull off the upset. An away playoff game will present a formidable test for Niagara as they face a Scarborough squad that won a historic 20 games en route to earning the first seed in the Conference. The Shooting Stars boast a deep, battle-tested roster capable of controlling the pace and punishing turnovers and mistakes in transition. Anchored by MVP candidate Myles Powell, who's averaging 22.9 points (3rd in CEBL), 3.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, and defensive stopper Kellen Tynes, averaging 2.0 steals per game (tied 1st in CEBL) the Shooting Stars have one of the CEBL’s most talented roster. However, Scarborough will be without three key contributors on Thursday after Frank Mitchell, Javan Johnson, and Terquavion Smith were suspended following an altercation in Monday's game against Brampton. The trio accounted for nearly 54 points, 18 rebounds, and over 78 minutes per game during the regular season, leaving a significant void on both ends of the floor. Their absence leaves Powell as the only available Shooting Star who averaged double figures this season, while Charles Bediako becomes the club's lone active player averaging more than five rebounds per game. With a trip to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final on the line, Niagara's success will hinge on its defensive intensity, rebounding, and ability to capitalize on Scarborough's depleted lineup. The River Lions have shown throughout the season that they can compete with anyone when they're playing their brand of basketball. A road playoff victory over the conference's top seed would not only extend Niagara's title defense, but serve as another reminder that championship experience matters when the postseason begins. Game Information Date: Thursday, August 6th, 2026 Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Location: Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Broadcast: CEBL+, CBC Gem, YouTube For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca

St. Catharines, ON – After clinching a playoff spot Thursday night the regular season comes down to the final game as the Niagara River Lions wrap up their two-game Western road trip with a high-stakes showdown against the Calgary Surge. Fresh off an 89–78 loss to the Saskatoon Mamba Wednesday night, Niagara enters their final matchup of the regular season with critical playoff seeding and potential home court advantage hanging in the balance. Despite the setback in Saskatoon, individual offensive sparks offered positive signs for Niagara. Guard Kyle Vinales paced the River Lions with a team-high 18 points and 7 assists, while two-time Finals MVP Khalil Ahmad added 16 points in the backcourt. Off the bench, Keonte Kennedy provided a valuable lift with 15 points to keep Niagara within striking distance down the stretch. Heading into the season finale, the River Lions will need a complete, 40-minute game to bounce back and steer Niagara into the win column before the postseason begins. However, a road matchup at WinSport Event Centre presents a formidable challenge against a Calgary Surge roster brimming with elite talent and frontline size. Featuring All-Canadian playmaker Sean Miller-Moore, who's averaging 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Operating alongside him in the backcourt is G League champion guard Jon Elmore, dishing 5.0 assists per contest with an elite 90.9% mark from the free-throw line. Down low, former NBA forward Greg Brown III provides exceptional length and explosive interior presence. Calgary’s physical transition game and aggressive rim protection will demand disciplined transition defense and persistent glass work from Niagara. With playoff positioning and first round homecourt advantage hanging in the balance, the River Lions look to close out the regular season on a high note and build momentum heading into postseason action. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at WinSport Event Centre. Fans can tune in live on CEBL+, CBC Gem, and YouTube. Game Information Date: Friday, July 31st, 2026 Time: 9:30 p.m. ET Location: WinSport Event Centre Broadcast: CEBL+, CBC Gem, YouTube For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca

St. Catharines, ON – With just two games remaining in the regular season, the Niagara River Lions head west for a pivotal two-game road trip that will determine their playoff fate. Fresh off a 27 point comeback victory against the Ottawa Blackjacks, Niagara improved to 10-12 and climbed into third place in the Eastern Conference, half a game back from Brampton. Saskatoon is next up on the horizon and these are now MUST-WIN games.  Saskatoon enters the matchup after securing their playoff spot in a 98-92 win at home against Brampton last week, and are sitting at 10-11 in the Western conference. Saskatoon won the lone meeting between the two teams this season, earning a convincing 104-77 win on Niagara’s home floor. Niagara now has an opportunity to even the season series while keeping its playoff hopes firmly in their own hands. Niagara’s recent momentum has been sparked by crucial depth and defensive intensity across the roster. Forward Nathan Cayo has been one of Niagara's most consistent contributors during the team's recent surge, averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, on 59/43/80 shooting splits over the past 5 games. On the perimeter, Keonte Kennedy and Munis Tutu have fueled Niagara's defensive identity, combining for 21 steals over the last five games while each averaging more than two steals per contest. Meanwhile, Khalil Ahmad continues to elevate his game at the perfect time, averaging 23.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists over his last six contests while shooting 58% from the field and 89% from the free throw line. "Mr. Clutch" has once again shown why he remains one of the league's most dangerous late-game scorers. However, a matchup with the Saskatoon Mamba presents one of the most complete rosters in Canadian basketball. Featuring dynamic guard Tavian Dunn-Martin, who leads the charge with an explosive 17.2 points and 6.2 assists per game (5th in CEBL). Alongside him, Tevian Jones provides another dangerous scoring option, averaging 19.3 points and 4.7 rebounds a night. Inside the paint, Saskatoon relies on the relentless energy of center Jaden Bediako to set the tone on both ends of the floor, averaging 11.8 points, 8.5 rebounds (4th in CEBL), 1.8 blocks (1st in CEBL), and 59.5% shooting from the field (4th in CEBL). In addition to their star power, the Mamba also boast a deep, battle-tested rotation capable of turning defensive pressure into rapid transition scoring. Sunday's comeback kept Niagara's hopes of hosting a playoff game alive. Now, with just two games remaining, the River Lions look to carry that momentum into the postseason. Another win would bring them one step closer to securing the second seed in one of the closer playoff races in recent CEBL history. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at SaskTel Centre. Fans can tune in live on CEBL+, CBC Gem, and YouTube. Game Information Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 Time: 9:30 p.m. ET Location: SaskTel Centre Broadcast: CEBL+, CBC Gem, YouTube For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions completed one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history Sunday afternoon, erasing a 27-point deficit to defeat the Ottawa BlackJacks 106-102 on Fan Appreciation Night at the Meridian Centre. Niagara entered Sunday’s matchup against Ottawa needing a win. They had lost their last two games and sat in fourth place in a tightly contested Eastern Conference. The stakes were even higher with Ottawa holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over Niagara, making Sunday's matchup critical in the race for playoff positioning. The first quarter was off to a rough start for Niagara as the BlackJacks led for the majority of the quarter and ended the frame in control with a 26-18 lead. Javonte Smart led the way for Ottawa with 6 points and 3 assists. One of the biggest struggles early was the River Lions offense which was held to 18 points on 40% shooting from the field, while committing 5 turnovers in the first. The quarter ended with a deep three from Marko Maletic at the horn which extended the BlackJacks lead to eight. The BlackJacks blew the game open in the second quarter, scoring 38 points. Ottawa’s shooters were on fire through one half of basketball, shooting 63.9% from the field and 56.2% from three. Marko Maletic was the biggest contributor off the bench for the BlackJacks recording 11 points and 4 rebounds in the half. The BlackJacks ended the half with a 64-42 lead over Niagara, seeming to be in complete control of the game. The third quarter initially looked like more of the same with Niagara making a couple of sloppy turnovers leading to the BlackJacks extending their lead to 27, their largest of the game. Down 27 points and in danger of seeing the game slip away completely, Niagara finally found the spark it had been searching for. Keonte Kennedy knocked down three three-pointers to start the quarter, while Ahmad sank three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt before drilling a step-back three of his own. Even with this run, Ahmad and the River Lions still had plenty of work to do with a 16-point deficit and five minutes left in the third quarter. Ottawa’s shooting would start to falter and Niagara was ready to capitalize on the opportunity, outscoring the BlackJacks 38-23 in the third and cutting their deficit down to seven points. Niagara's comeback was fueled on both ends of the floor. Offensively, the River Lions knocked down six of their ten three-point attempts in the third quarter. Defensively, Munis Tutu set the tone with relentless hustle, diving for loose balls, forcing turnovers, and grabbing key rebounds that energized the Meridian Centre crowd. Niagara River Lions Head Coach Kimbal Mackenzie commented on the group’s improvement heading into the second: “I think our sense of urgency. We were into the basketball and we were flying around. Sometimes that can make the biggest difference. Our energy picked up, our competitiveness, our willingness to do the tough things defensively. So I think that's what helped us.” The job wasn’t finished yet as Niagara still had one quarter of basketball to play trailing 87-80. The fourth quarter became a back-and-forth battle as Niagara slowly chipped away at Ottawa's lead without drawing even. Heading into Target Time Khalil Ahmad showed why he’s known as “Mr. Clutch” attacking the rim with ease and scoring 7 points through the first 5 minutes of the final frame. After a Javonte Smart layup with less than four minutes in the fourth quarter and a four point lead the BlackJacks were preparing to intentionally foul and enter Target Time. As Ahmad crossed the timeline the BlackJacks attempted to foul the Niagara star. Ahmad would make a savvy veteran move by going up for a shot before he was fouled, earning a trip to the line and knocking down three free throws to cut Ottawa’s lead to 97-96. In Target Time, Niagara capitalized on every opportunity, stringing together defensive stops while forcing Ottawa into difficult shots. The River Lions would take a 102-100 lead after a Tutu block which instantly turned into a transition layup. Two possessions later Kennedy would strip Javonte Smart of the ball and throw down a monster slam in transition, blowing the roof off the Meridian Centre as Niagara was now one basket away from winning the game. Following a couple turnovers from both teams Matthew Cleveland would kick his legs out on a three point attempt which would be called as an offensive foul. Ahmad would head to the line and ice the game with two free throws giving Niagara their first win against Ottawa of the season. Ahmad finished with 31 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals, leading Niagara's remarkable comeback. After the game, Ahmad credited his mindset: “Just trying to be locked in from the jump, you know, focus on the things that I control, defense, talking to my teammates, et cetera, and then just letting other things fall into place.” The win marks Niagara’s second 20+ point comeback of the season showcasing the River Lions prowess at finishing games strong. Despite the comeback, Niagara's slow starts remain an area of concern heading into the playoffs. Sunday marks the 14th game of the season in which Niagara has trailed entering half-time which is tied for second most in the CEBL. The River Lions have proven they can compete with anyone in the CEBL, however they still need to prove that they can showcase that level of play from the opening tip. The victory moves Niagara into third place in the Eastern Conference with a one-game cushion over Ottawa. That separation is significant, as the BlackJacks own the season tiebreaker. With two games remaining, the River Lions now sit just half a game behind the Honey Badgers for second place while Brampton still has two meetings remaining with the league-leading Scarborough Shooting Stars. Ahmad thinks defense will play an important role in Niagara’s next two games: “Our big focus is defense, honestly. Like, if we can take care of it on the defensive end, keep teams to under, you know, 80 or something like that we'll put ourselves in a really good position to win any game.” Kimbal Mackenzie commented on the team’s point of emphasis to close out the season: “Two wins. I mean, every game is super important at this point, we know that. The emphasis is to continue to get better and to learn each other better going into the playoffs.” Niagara will close out the regular season with a two-game west coast road trip. The River Lions face the Saskatoon Mamba on Wednesday, July 29 at 9:30 pm before ending the season against the Calgary Surge later that week on Friday, July 31. For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions are on the road Friday night looking to bounce back after a tough loss against the Edmonton Stingers last Saturday. A matchup that ended in a 102-91 loss pushing Niagara to 9-11 on the season and moving the River Lions into fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Niagara moves its attention to an important away game against the top ranked team in the league and an Eastern Conference rival. The Shooting Stars currently sit in first place in the Eastern Conference and have already secured their trip to the playoffs within the last week. Niagara enters Friday’s game having won the last matchup against Scarborough 98-89 after falling short the previous two games this season, going 1-2 in the season series against Scarborough. Niagara's new trio has continued to produce night in and night out on all sides of the ball, providing the River Lions with a needed scoring punch and defensive versatility that has been lacking. Vinales and Tutu have made an immediate impact, with Vinales averaging 19.2 points and 2.4 assists, while Tutu has contributed 8.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. The 4-1 record of the last 5 games and the success of Niagara began with the presence and leadership of the River Lions veteran guards. Although a tough loss in the previous game, Kyle Vinales dropped 23 points on 4 three-pointers made against Edmonton while Khalil Ahmad put up 23 points and 4 assists, forming one of the league’s most dangerous backcourts alongside the consistent play of Keonte Kennedy. Through this stretch, Ahmad has locked in on scoring the basketball, averaging 23.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 on an incredible 59% shooting over the last five games on stellar defence. Scarborough enters Friday’s matchup with a 16-4 record after a close win against Ottawa ending in a 113-106 final score on Wednesday. The Shooting Stars currently occupy first place in the Eastern Conference standings. Former Philadelphia 76ers guard Myles Powell leads the way for the Shooting Stars, averaging 23.9 points (3rd in CEBL), 3.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. While St. Bonaventure product Frank Michell has been a dominant presence for Scarborough, averaging 15.0 points, 10.6 rebounds (1st in CEBL), and 2.6 assists per game. Defensively, former Delaware Blue Coats guard Kellen Tynes is currently tied for first in the CEBL with 2.3 steals per game, providing elite perimeter defence for the Shooting Stars. The Shooting Stars lineup will also feature the return of 2026 Summer League participants Charles Bediako and Akoi Yuot which will strengthen one of the CEBL’s deepest lineups. With a chance to get a bounce back win and climb the Eastern Conference standings, Friday’s matchup carries significant playoff implications as the River Lions are down to their last 4 games of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Fans can tune in live on CEBL+, CBC Gem, and YouTube. Game Information Date: Friday, July 24th, 2026 Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Location: Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Broadcast: CEBL+, CBC Gem, YouTube For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . ### Media Contact: Cole Meyering Communications Coordinator communications@riverlions.ca