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 afternoon 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 3:00 p.m. ET at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Fans can tune in live on CEBL+, CBC Gem, and YouTube. For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X . 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

St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara River Lions saw their four-game winning streak come to an end Saturday night, falling 102-91 to the Edmonton Stingers at the Meridian Centre. Despite another strong offensive outing from Khalil Ahmad and Kyle Vinales, Edmonton's efficient attack and dominant bench proved too much for Niagara to overcome as the Stingers shot 47% from three and finished with 58 points in the paint. Niagara entered the game looking to return to .500 for the first time in more than a month after winning four straight, while Edmonton arrived looking to snap its own four-game losing streak. Niagara started off the game looking like they were one step ahead of the Stingers. Niagara's defense contested nearly every Edmonton look early, forcing difficult shots and helping the River Lions build an eight-point lead midway through the quarter. The Stingers called a timeout which slowed down the River Lions momentum, but Niagara still managed to carry the lead into the second quarter. Edmonton struggled from the field shooting 31.6% in the opening quarter. Niagara capitalized by pushing the pace in transition and attacking the paint, where they converted 85% of their attempts. In the second Edmonton completely shifted the momentum of the game early, with four quick paint touches all leading to points. Niagara called a timeout as the Stingers took a 28-24 lead early into the second on the back of an 8-0 run. The Stingers continued to attack the rim, either finishing inside or earning trips to the free-throw line. Edmonton, led by Nick Hornsby with 11 points, ended the quarter in control of the game with a 51-43 lead. The Stingers converted on 13 of their 16 attempts from the field and outscored Niagara by 12 in the second quarter, looking like a completely different team than they did earlier in the game. In the third Edmonton continued to push, extending their lead to 15 with two minutes remaining in the frame. The Stingers continued to dominate inside, scoring 44 points in the paint through three quarters. Niagara tried to battle back, led by Khalil Ahmad and Kyle Vinales, who scored nine and seven points in the quarter respectively. However, the Stingers were able to stop these runs converting on shots late in the shot clock to halt Niagara’s comeback attempts. The Stingers' offense was fluid throughout the game, consistently making the extra pass to create quality looks for teammates. Taye Donald, Emmanuel Bandoumel, Nick Hornsby, and Stanley Davis Jr. all had more than 10 points through three quarters and Edmonton’s bench was outscoring Niagara’s 31-14. Niagara cut into the deficit behind Ahmad and Vinales midway through the fourth, but every River Lions run was answered by Edmonton, who continued to attack the basket before pulling away late. Scottie Lindsay's layup sealed a 102-91 Stingers victory, snapping Niagara's four-game winning streak and handing the River Lions their first loss since their midseason additions. Edmonton's depth proved to be the difference, as the Stingers' bench contributed 46 points behind Stanley Davis Jr. 's 20-point performance and Taye Donald's 15 points and six assists. Combined with 58 points in the paint and 23 fast-break points, Edmonton's balanced offensive attack carried the visitors to victory. Ahmad and Vinales each scored 23 points to lead Niagara, while Nathan Cayo added 14 points in the loss. Niagara will now turn its attention to the league-leading Scarborough Shooting Stars on Friday, July 24. Sitting third in the Eastern Conference, the River Lions will look to bounce back and even the season series against one of the CEBL's hottest teams in a matchup with significant playoff implications. The Niagara River Lions are one of the founding franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and the league’s reigning back-to-back champions (2024 & 2025). Competing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, from May to August each season, the River Lions proudly represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region, uniting fans through passion, pride, and purpose. Entering their second decade, the River Lions have earned a reputation for championship-caliber performance and community impact, embodying the strength and spirit of Niagara both on and off the court. 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 back at home Saturday afternoon looking to keep the wins coming after four straight wins and a home-and-home sweep of the Brampton Honey Badgers. Thursday night’s matchup ended in a 99-90 win improving Niagara to 9-10 on the season and moving the River Lions into second place in the Eastern Conference. Niagara now turns its attention to a nationally televised showdown against the Edmonton Stingers Saturday afternoon. The Stingers currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference and are hoping to secure their trip to the playoffs. Niagara enters Saturday's matchup with the momentum on their side after four straight victories since the additions of Kyle Vinales, Gorjok Gak, and Munis Tutu. The trio has continued to produce night in and night out on both ends of the floor, providing the River Lions with improved scoring depth and defensive versatility. Vinales and Tutu have made an immediate impact, with Vinales averaging 18.3 points and 2.8 assists, while Tutu has contributed 8.8 points and 3.0 steals per game. Much of Niagara's recent success has started with the play of its guards. Vinales scored 25 points on 5 three-pointers made against Brampton, forming one of the league’s most dangerous backcourts alongside Khalil Ahmad and Keonte Kennedy. Through this stretch, opposing defenses have been trying everything to contain Ahmad, who has averaged 24.0 points and 5.0 assists on an outstanding 59% shooting over the last four games. Keonte Kennedy continued his strong play on Thursday, with 16 points and 3 assists, adding a block and a steal while continuing to establish himself as one of the River Lions’ top perimeter defenders. Edmonton enters Saturday’s matchup with a 7-11 record after a tough 107-97 loss to the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Thursday. The Stingers currently occupy fourth place in the Western Conference standings. Former G-League guard Nick Hornsby leads the way for the Stingers, averaging 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists (5th in CEBL) per game. Scottie Lindsey is coming off one of his best performances this season, dropping 25 points, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block while averaging 12.8 points on the season. As a team, Edmonton ranks fourth in the CEBL in assists, rebounds, steals and free-throw percentage, making the Stingers one of the league's most balanced clubs despite their record. With a chance to extend their winning streak to five games and create further separation from Brampton in the Eastern Conference standings, Saturday's matchup carries significant playoff implications as the regular season enters its final stretch. In addition to the on-court action, fans can celebrate the River Lions' Christmas in July game, featuring holiday-themed entertainment and festive fun throughout the afternoon at Meridian Centre. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET at Meridian Centre. Fans can tune in live on CEBL+, CBC Gem, and YouTube.  Game Information Date: Saturday, July 18th, 2026 Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Location: Meridian 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 – Riding a three-game winning streak and fresh off Tuesday's victory over Brampton, the Niagara River Lions returned home Thursday with a chance to sweep the home-and-home series and climb into second place in the Eastern Conference. Behind another standout performance from Kyle Vinales and another complete effort from their retooled lineup, Niagara did exactly that, defeating the Honey Badgers 99-90 for its fourth consecutive victory. Although Sean East II remained away with NBA Summer League commitments, Brampton welcomed reinforcements with the additions of Trentyn Flowers and the return of Cameron Tyson. The opening quarter reflected the Eastern Conference standings, with two evenly matched teams trading defensive stops and refusing to allow the game's first significant run. There were three lead changes in the first frame and neither team led by more than five points. Brampton appeared to have secured a lead going into the break as the shot clock was turned off while they held a one-point lead. An early shot gave Niagara an opportunity which they capitalized on, with Nathan Cayo grabbing the rebound and throwing an outlet pass to Keonte Kennedy who finished a Euro-step lay up as time expired, giving the River Lions a 19-18 lead entering the break. The second quarter remained a tightly contested defensive battle. Tutu set the tone defensively with full-court pressure, loose-ball dives and active hands that disrupted Brampton's offense. Keonte Kennedy's defense helped limit Brampton's offensive rhythm for much of the first half, even as Flowers found ways to contribute offensively. By consistently attacking the basket, Niagara generated 35 first-half points from the paint and the free throw line, allowing the River Lions to take a 43-38 lead into halftime. After spending twenty minutes attacking the paint, Niagara finally found its perimeter rhythm in the third quarter. Kyle Vinales led the way continuing to show why Niagara targeted him mid-season. Vinales scored the first eight points of the quarter for Niagara before finishing the frame with 16 points and four made three-pointers. "I feel like we have a great system in place," Vinales said. "I tried to find where the openings were, the gaps in the defense, and I was able to make shots." The rest of the River Lions followed suit shooting 6-for-12 from three and putting up 32 points in the frame. Niagara ended the quarter with a 16 point lead, their biggest of the game up until this point, and were in control with a score of 75-59. Niagara continued to attack the basket to open the fourth quarter, maintaining the momentum it built during its third-quarter surge. Kennedy and Ahmad both attacked the rim without fear, welcoming contact and finishing with a mix of strong takes and athletic finishes. The intensity of the game picked up in the fourth with both teams playing physical basketball and refusing to back down. This intensity escalated into a heated exchange between Kennedy and Tyrese Hunter after a Phil Jordan Tchuente three. Kennedy was assessed a technical foul on top of the offsetting unsportsmanlike calls, which ultimately led to the guard being ejected from the contest.The River Lions continued their strong showing all the way into Target Score Time with a 90-72 lead and all the momentum with the support of the Meridian Centre. Brampton made one final push in Target Score Time behind Trentyn Flowers, who scored 14 points during the stretch to trim the deficit to six. Niagara answered by attacking the basket and earning trips to the free throw line before Khalil Ahmad sealed the victory. The victory marked Niagara's fourth straight win and moved the River Lions into second place in the Eastern Conference, completing a remarkable rise from the bottom of the standings just over a week ago. Four games don't define a season, but they can change its direction. Since adding Kyle Vinales, Munis Tutu and Gorjok Gak, the River Lions have gone 4-0, defeated the league-leading Shooting Stars, posted a +31 point differential and climbed from the bottom of the Eastern Conference into second place. That turnaround has been fueled by contributions from all three mid-season additions. Head coach Kimbal Mackenzie believes each newcomer has filled a different need within the lineup, giving the River Lions a much more balanced roster. "Big G is doing his job in the middle, protecting the paint and finishing around the rim. Kyle is giving us another extremely potent offensive weapon who can make shots all over the court, and Munis has been absolutely dynamic with the way he changes the pace of the game, his defensive activity and his offensive skill set," Mackenzie said. "All three of these guys have brought us unique skills, and I think it's allowed other players on our team to excel as well." Perhaps nowhere has Niagara's improvement been more noticeable than in the backcourt. Vinales has immediately formed a dangerous partnership alongside Khalil Ahmad, giving opposing defenses two veteran scorers capable of taking over a game. "It's tough to scout," Mackenzie said. "When you're looking up and down the scout and have to prepare for the two of those guys, I think they free each other up." The attention commanded by Ahmad and Vinales has also created opportunities for the rest of Niagara's roster. With defenses forced to devote extra attention to Ahmad and Vinales, Kennedy has found more opportunities to attack the basket and score in space, while Tutu has elevated the team's defensive intensity with relentless ball pressure, active hands and his ability to generate extra possessions. Despite arriving midway through the season, Vinales said fitting into Niagara's locker room has been seamless. "When I arrived, the chemistry was already very family-oriented," Vinales said. "Everyone welcomed me, so it was very easy to fit in." That chemistry translated to another balanced offensive performance Thursday night. Vinales led Niagara with 25 points, Ahmad added 20 points and eight assists, Kennedy chipped in 16 points, while Tutu filled the stat sheet with five points, 10 assists, five steals and a block as the River Lions continued to show the depth and versatility that has fueled their four-game winning streak. "Looking at the standings, these are super important games," Mackenzie said. "The East is still a complete logjam outside of Scarborough." Now the River Lions look ahead to Saturday’s matchup back in the Meridian Centre against the (7-11) Edmonton Stingers. Niagara hopes to extend its streak to five and put some separation between themselves and the rest of the Eastern Conference as the River Lions are currently in position to host a home playoff game. "We've done it now for four games where we have a game day, off day, game day, off day," Mackenzie said. "We'll follow the same routine and do our best to prepare." The Niagara River Lions are one of the founding franchises of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and the league’s reigning back-to-back champions (2024 & 2025). Competing out of the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, from May to August each season, the River Lions proudly represent the twelve municipalities of the Niagara Region, uniting fans through passion, pride, and purpose. Entering their second decade, the River Lions have earned a reputation for championship-caliber performance and community impact, embodying the strength and spirit of Niagara both on and off the court. 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