Jordan Baker rolled off a pick before laying in the winning basket as part of a 19-point, 12-rebound performance, leading the Edmonton Stingers over the Niagara River Lions 87-86 on Friday in the Canadian Elite Basketball League Summer Series.
Xavier Moon had a game-high 24 points while Travis Daniels added 15 for the Stingers (3-1), who have won three in a row after dropping their Series opener.
“In a tight game, you have to make every possession count. Everybody had to stay composed. We got stops down the stretch and made our free throws and some real tough buckets,” said Moon.
Baker, who entered the game averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds at the tournament, went 8 for 12 from the field.
READ MORE: Baker leads Edmonton Stingers to 88-82 win over Hamilton Honey Badgers
Watch below: (From May 10, 2019) With the Edmonton Stingers set to tip off their Canadian Elite Basketball League season on Friday night, Kevin Karius takes a closer look at one of their players who has already seen success playing basketball in Edmonton.
“The thing about Jordan, I don’t ever really run any plays for him. He knows the open spots, and he’s making shots now. He’s doing it all for us right now,” said Stingers coach Jermaine Small. “There’s no question in my mind he’s the MVP right now.”
Trae Bell-Haynes led the River Lions (1-3) with 23 points. Daniel Mullings chipped in with 11.
The CEBL uses the Elam Ending scoring format, meaning every game produces a game-winning shot. At the first stoppage of play in the final four minutes, nine points is added to the leading team’s score. The first team to hit that mark is the winner.
Niagara led 78-77 at the first stoppage, making it a race to 87.
Elam scoring was used for the NBA all-star game, which ended in free throws.
The CEBL Summer Series is a 26-game, round-robin competition being held at the Meridian Centre and will decide the second-year league’s 2020 champion. Games are being played with no fans in attendance.