The Montréal Alliance host the Niagara River Lions this Thursday for the first of three matchups between the two teams this season.

The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Verdun Auditorium and will be broadcast live on CEBL+, TSN+, RDS.ca, the RDS app, and on the CEBL mobile app available on iOS and Android. The game will also be televised on RDS.

Nathan Cayo’s Anticipated Return

The game is particularly significant as it marks Nathan Cayo’s return to Montréal. Cayo, who played for the Alliance during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, will be facing his former team for the first time since joining the River Lions.

Momentum for the Alliance

The Alliance arrive with renewed confidence after their resounding 104-89 victory against the Ottawa BlackJacks last Tuesday, a performance that set a franchise record for the most points scored in a single game. Chris Smith was the team’s leading scorer with 21 points, hitting 61% of his shots. Jordan Bowden added 20 points off the bench.

“We had a week of practice where we focused on our defense and reducing turnovers,” explained Alliance head coach Derrick Alston Sr. after the game in Ottawa. “Today was a true demonstration of what our team can accomplish.”

Threatening River Lions

The River Lions also come into this game with momentum after a 100-79 victory over the Edmonton Stingers. Jahvon Blair was exceptional with 26 points, while Nathan Cayo added 23 points, including five three-pointers.

2023 Season

Montréal and Niagara faced off twice in 2023, with the River Lions coming out on top in both encounters.