In a spirited matchup, the Montreal Alliance (2-5) fell to the Niagara River Lions (4-2) with a final score of 94-80. The highlight of the night was Omari Moore's exceptional performance, achieving the first triple-double of the 2024 CEBL season. Moore recorded 16 points on 50 percent shooting, along with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, and three blocked shots.

“I think I came out pretty aggressive today; I kind of wanted to make a point of that,” Moore said about his standout game. “I was able to find my teammates early, get some stuff going downhill, and make shots. Overall, I think it was a solid performance.”

Jahvon Blair also contributed significantly to Niagara’s victory, scoring 21 points on 46 percent shooting, including four three-pointers, while adding five rebounds and three assists.

For the Alliance, Ahmed Hill delivered an impressive performance, leading the team with 19 points on 46 percent shooting, along with two rebounds and two assists. Despite the loss, Hill's effort was a bright spot for Montreal.

The game started with both teams trading baskets, but the River Lions edged out a 24-20 lead by the end of the first quarter, propelled by Blair's nine points on 75 percent shooting.

“I was telling myself before the game started to stay consistent, keep my shot going,” Blair said. “Keep the flow going without rushing or forcing anything. It's really about my teammates finding me and my coach trusting me.”

Niagara built on their momentum in the second quarter, excelling on both offense and defense. They held Montreal to 33 percent shooting from the field and just 23 percent from beyond the arc, finishing the first half with a 48-35 lead.

Niagara head coach Victor Raso emphasized the importance of their defensive strategy. “We are very strict on our defensive fundamentals and how we handle actions,” Raso said. “We work on them every day. Coach Troy Stevenson has been an excellent defensive coach. These guys have really allowed us to coach them more than teams I've had in the past. I can coach them pretty hard, and they’ll be quite responsive to it.”

Although the Alliance were outscored 29-15 in the third quarter, they rallied in the fourth, outscoring the River Lions 30-17. Despite this strong finish, they ultimately fell short, concluding the game with a score of 94-80.



Looking ahead, the Alliance will aim to bounce back as they prepare to face the Scarborough Shooting Stars this Sunday.