River Lions improve to league-best 6-1 after fifth straight win
The Niagara River Lions have emerged as kings of the hardwood jungle, and the Canadian Elite Basketball League team is showing no signs of abdicating any time soon.
A 107-96 victory over the Hamilton Honey Badgers Saturday night at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines was their fifth win a row and fifth time this season topping the century mark in scoring.
Niagara improved to league-leading 6-1 a third of the way into the fledgling pro league's inaugural 20-game spring-summer schedule.
Four players reached double digits in scoring for the River Lions, who never trailed after rebounding from a 13-4 deficit early in the opening quarter.
Guillaume Payen-Bouchard paced the hosts in points, with a game-high 24; in rebounds, 13; as well as in playing time, 31:57, also tops for all players.
Fellow starters Nem Mitrovic scored 14 points while Ryan Anderson and Kassius Robertson collected 19 and 17 points, respectively, from the bench.
Trae Bell-Haynes added eight points and Dorian Pinson and Sam Muldrow seven apiece for the River Lions.
Pinson and Anderson came down with nine and six rebounds, respectively.
Hamilton won the battle of the boards by a 49-40 margin, but the Honey Badgers were outscored 28-17 in points off turnovers and 47-30 in points off the bench.
Niagara outscored Hamilton 36-18 in the first quarter, took a 54-41 lead into halftime and was up 80-62 after three quarters of play before being outscored by seven points over the final 10 minutes.
Teams in Basketball Canada's top men's division follow international rules and play 40 minutes. Regulation games are 48 minutes long in the National Basketball League.
The River Lions have been undefeated since dropping a 118-105 decision in overtime on the road to the Edmonton Stingers in their second game of the series.
Niagara returns to the court Wednesday when it completes a home-and-home with the Badgers in a 7 p.m. tipoff at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton.
They host the Guelph Nighthawks two nights later, also at 7.
The River Lions opened the season series versus the Nighthawks with a 93-85 victory June 1 in Guelph.
Bernd.Franke@niagaradailies.com
905-225-1624 | @TribSportsDesk
Bernd.Franke@niagaradailies.com
905-225-1624 | @TribSportsDesk