Surge Ride Dominant Third Quarter to Win Over Sea Bears

May 24, 2025
Zulfi Sheikh

The visiting Calgary Surge (2-1) outscored the Winnipeg Sea Bears (1-1) 33-14 in the third quarter and rode that effort to a 98-86 win to end their season-opening three-game road trip on a high note.

 

Calgary's playstyle in the early season has been clear: push the pace and generate high-quality looks. Count both those boxes checked after Friday as the Surge ran roughshod over the Sea Bears for a 22-3 edge in fast-break scoring as part of a whopping 58 points in the paint (plus-20).


Leading that rim-running onslaught was Sean Miller-Moore, who finished with a CEBL career-high 29 points to go with six assists, one steal and one block. 


“It’s a huge part of our identity,” the fourth-year guard said of his team’s fast-break effectiveness. “If we can get stops and run, that’s exactly what we want to do. No plays … just get out and run.”


Right behind Miller-Moore was Jameer Nelson Jr., chipping in 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting along with seven rebounds and three steals as he finished a game-high plus-27. Meanwhile, Khyri Thomas had 11 points and 10 rebounds for his first CEBL double-double.


On the other side, Jaylin Williams led the Sea Bears in their first loss of the season as he scored a team-high 21 points to go with six rebounds and four assists. Terry Roberts did his part as well, putting up 15 points, 11 assists and three steals. The import guard is quickly building a reputation as one of the league’s top playmakers, his 9.5 average assists are the third-most in the CEBL. Tevian Jones and Emmanuel Akot rounded out Winnipeg’s double-digit scoring efforts on the night as the pair added 16 and 10 points, respectively.


As the saying goes, basketball is a game of runs. And Friday’s contest was no exception.


The first momentum-swing came in the opening frame when the Surge turned what was an early 8-4 deficit and flipped it into a 27-14 lead after 10 minutes. It was Calgary’s defence that did the heavy lifting as it limited Winnipeg to just two made field goals after the 7:42 mark of the first quarter as part of a 23-6 run.


“When you create deficits like that, it’s always hard to win games,” Williams said post-game of Winnipeg falling behind. “I think we just have to start our quarters better.”


The Sea Bears showed some resilience, however, punching right back in the second quarter with a 15-5 run spearheaded by some timely three-point shooting and Williams’ individual brilliance. Winnipeg started the game a paltry 1-of-7 from distance, but ended the half shooting 8-of-20 and made six triples in the second quarter. All the while, Williams went on an individual 8-3 to finish the second as part of 12 points in the frame, helping cut the Surge’s lead to just 48-47 through 20 minutes.


“I was really proud of the way we battled back in the second quarter,” Sea Bears head coach and general manager Mike Taylor said after the game. “They punched us in the mouth early … I think it took us a while to get going.”


But that was when the third quarter happened. What proved to be the defining frame of the ball game, Calgary opened the second half on a 20-4 run and never looked back. Underscoring that effort was a defence that forced five turnovers throughout the quarter as part of 15 Sea Bears’ giveaways for 27 points on the night.


“We knew the more disciplined team was going to win,” Miller-Moore said of the Surge’s response in the third quarter. “We tried to do what we’re good at it worked.”


While Winnipeg did make things interesting for parts of the final quarter, namely a 10-2 run to start the fourth, the comeback didn’t get much closer. Calgary took an 89-74 lead into Target Score time and the duo of Miller-Moore and Nelson got to work.


The pair scored all nine of the Surge’s points to end the contest, including three straight buckets from Miller-Moore before Nelson split a pair of free throws to seal the deal.


“I love our fight,” Calgary head coach Dave Canales said. “I love our competitive endurance. We knew we were coming into a play a great-coached team and I’m just proud of the group.”


The Surge’s win improved the franchise to 6-2 all-time against the Sea Bears, which also includes a Play-In win last season.

 

Box Score 

 

https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600573 

 

Up next 

 

The Surge and Sea Bears will waste no time before a rematch as the pair will face off Sunday in Calgary’s home-opener for their second of four contests this season.


“You got us tonight, but we have a chance to respond Sunday,” Taylor said.

 

Next CEBL action 

 

The 0-2 Saskatchewan Rattlers' search for a first win continues on Saturday as they’ll host the defending champion Niagara River Lions (2-1), who’ll be looking to bounce back from their first defeat this season.

 

For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games. 


- CEBL -

Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa annoncent le calendrier de la saison régulière 2026

February 26, 2026
Les BlackJacks d'Ottawa de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB) ont annoncé aujourd’hui que l’équipe a conclu une entente avec l’ailier Justin Ndjock-Tadjoré en vue de la saison 2026. Il effectue un retour avec les BlackJacks pour une troisième campagne, après avoir été sélectionné par Ottawa lors des deux derniers repêchages de la CEBL. Il s’agira de sa première saison sous contrat standard, plutôt que sous contrat de joueur en développement. Originaire de Gatineau (Québec), Ndjock-Tadjoré dispute présentement sa première saison avec BK Ogre, dans la Estonian-Latvian Basketball League. Il occupe présentement le deuxième rang de l’équipe aux rebonds (7,8), aux blocs (0,8) et aux vols de ballon (0,8) par match, en plus de se classer quatrième pour les minutes jouées (27,9 par match) et quatrième au chapitre des points (13,2 par match). Lors de la saison 2025 de la CEBL, l’ailier de 6 pi 7 po a maintenu des moyennes de 4,3 points et 2,3 rebonds en 15 matchs de saison régulière. Il a notamment signé un sommet personnel dans la CEBL avec 19 points le 10 août contre Vancouver. « Annoncer Justin aujourd’hui représente un moment dont nous sommes très fiers comme organisation. Ça souligne notre engagement envers le développement des joueurs — prendre un talent local d’élite issu du niveau U SPORTS et l’aider à faire le saut vers le basketball professionnel », a déclaré le directeur général des BlackJacks d’Ottawa, James Derouin. « Après une solide première saison outremer, Justin revient à la maison en joueur plus expérimenté et polyvalent. Ses atouts physiques et son intensité sont exactement ce dont nous aurons besoin cet été, et nous avons hâte de le voir franchir une autre étape importante dans sa carrière chez nous. » Diplômé de l’Université d’Ottawa, il a aidé les Gee-Gees à remporter une médaille de bronze U SPORTS lors de chacune de ses deux saisons avec l’équipe. Il s’est joint au programme après un transfert de St. Bonaventure University (NCAA), où il a disputé 13 matchs en deux saisons avec les Bonnies. Ottawa lancera sa saison à The Arena à la Place TD, le mardi 12 mai à 19 h 30, face aux champions en titre de la Conférence de l’Ouest, le Calgary Surge. Des forfaits de billets flexibles et des expériences de groupe sont actuellement en vente en visitant theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/tickets , ou rendez-vous sur theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca/season-seat-memberships pour vous joindre à nous lors de tous les matchs à domicile de la saison 2026. ### À propos des BlackJacks d'Ottawa Première franchise d'expansion de la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), les BlackJacks d’Ottawa sont une équipe professionnelle masculine de basketball qui évolue à l'Aréna de la Place TD. Le club est engagé envers l’excellence tant sur le terrain qu’en dehors, et vise à inspirer la fierté communautaire, à encourager le développement de la relève et à offrir une expérience inégalée à ses partisans. Pour plus d'informations, visitez le site theblackjacks.ca/fr-ca .

BlackJacks Re-Sign University of Ottawa Standout Ndjock-Tadjoré

February 26, 2026
The Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the club has signed forward Justin Ndjock-Tadjoré ahead of the 2026 season. He returns to the BlackJacks for his third campaign with the club after previously being selected by Ottawa in each of the last two CEBL Drafts. This will be Ndjock-Tadjoré's first season under a standard player contract as opposed to a developmental contract. A native of Gatineau, Que., Ndjock-Tadjoré is currently participating in his first season for BK Ogre of the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League where he currently ranks second on the team in rebounds (7.8), blocks (0.8) and steals (0.8) per-game, fourth in minutes (27.9 mpg) and fourth in scoring (13.2 ppg) The 2025 CEBL season saw the 6'7" forward average 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 15 regular season games. The year was highlighted by a CEBL career-high 19 points on Aug. 10 vs. Vancouver. “Announcing Justin today is a proud moment for our program. It highlights the commitment to the development player process – taking elite local talent from the U SPORTS level and helping them bridge the gap to the professional game," said Ottawa BlackJacks general manager, James Derouin. “After finishing a strong first year overseas, Justin returns home as a more seasoned, versatile player. His physical tools and high motor are exactly what we need this summer and we're eager to see him take the next big step in his career with us.” A graduate of the University of Ottawa, he helped the Gee-Gees to a U SPORTS bronze medal in each of his two seasons with the team. He joined the club after transferring from St. Bonaventure University (NCAA) where he appeared 13 times for the Bonnies across two campaigns. Ottawa opens the season at The Arena at TD Place on Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. against the defending Western Conference champion, Calgary Surge. Flexible ticket packages and group experiences are currently available to purchase by visiting theblackjacks.ca/tickets or visit theblackjacks.ca/season-seat-memberships to become a 2026 season seat member. ### About the Ottawa BlackJacks The first expansion franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Ottawa BlackJacks are a professional men’s basketball team competing out of The Arena at TD Place. The club is committed to excellence on-and-off the court and aims to inspire community pride, foster grassroots development and deliver an unparalleled fan experience. For more information, visit theblackjacks.ca .

Sea Bears Sign Canadian Guard Walker

February 19, 2026
The Winnipeg Sea Bears today announce the signing of Canadian guard David Walker. Walker most recently appeared for the Ottawa BlackJacks in the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League season, where on Aug. 16 2025, in a playoff game, he had a standout performance, scoring 19 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and recording 3 steals in 25 minutes. Prior to his time in Ottawa, he suited up for the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2025. Walker was also recognized as a finalist for the 2024 CEBL Developmental Player of the Year award. In addition, Walker was a finalist for the 2023 U SPORTS Player of the Year award, recognizing his outstanding performance at the university level and cementing his reputation as one of Canada’s top basketball talents. Over his CEBL career, playing for Brampton Honey Badgers, Scarborough Shooting Stars, and Ottawa BlackJacks, Walker has averaged 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. “David fits the identity we’re building. He’s a tough, physical Canadian guard with league experience who strengthens our Canadian depth,” said Lead Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager Alex Campbell. “He defends with purpose, plays hard, and gets downhill offensively. We believe he has tremendous upside, and I think Sea Bears Nation is going to appreciate the way he competes and works every single day.” Walker was originally selected 22nd overall in the 2024 CEBL Draft and began his professional career with the Brampton Honey Badgers, where he averaged 7.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16 games during the 2024 season. Before turning professional, Walker starred at Toronto Metropolitan University, averaging 16.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during the 2023–24 season. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Sea Bears,” said Walker. “Winnipeg has built something special, and I’m coming in ready to bring toughness, versatility, and a winning mindset every time I step on the floor.” ###

Mazereeuw promu Président et Chef de la Direction de la Ligue Elite Canadienne de Basketball

February 19, 2026
Le premier président de l'histoire de la ligue assume un rôle de leadership élargi alors que la ligue professionnelle de basketball du Canada amorce sa prochaine phase de croissance

Mazereeuw Promoted to President and CEO of Canadian Elite Basketball League

February 19, 2026
League’s first-ever President takes on expanded leadership role as Canada’s professional basketball league enters its next phase of growth

Brampton Native Djuricic Inks Deal with Honey Badgers

February 17, 2026
The four-year CEBL veteran and former Harvard standout joins Brampton after winning a championship with Scarborough in 2023

NBA-Experienced Cerda, Brampton Agree to Terms on Head Coaching Role

February 13, 2026
Cerda is currently an Assistant Coach in the Los Angeles Lakers organization.

Vancouver Bandits Make Impactful Community Visits in the Okanagan

February 12, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), are committed to making a positive impact through basketball and growing the game across British Columbia, and this dedication was highlighted this past week in Kelowna and the Okanagan area. Coming off the recent announcement of Kelowna HOOPFEST, a brand-new basketball festival featuring a CEBL neutral-site home game in partnership with the City of Kelowna, Bandits head coach Kyle Julius spent time at five Okanagan-area secondary schools and both of Kelowna’s post-secondary men’s basketball teams, as part of the Vancouver Bandits third-annual Bandits School Tour. Julius and Bandits staff visited Mount Boucherie Secondary School, Immaculata Regional High School, Okanagan Mission Secondary, Rutland Secondary School and Kelowna Secondary, as well as the men’s basketball teams at UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College, providing dedicated and tailored practices along with motivational talks and training materials. Launched in 2023, the Bandits School Tour is supported by the Bandits Community Foundation, Preston Chevrolet and Envision Financial and offers a unique opportunity for student-athletes and volunteer coaches to learn directly from BC’s only professional basketball coach. “What stood out most during our visit was the impact basketball can have when it is rooted in mentorship and connection; it is clear how vibrant the basketball and business ecosystem is in the Okanagan,” said Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We are thankful to the Okanagan and Kelowna communities for welcoming us so openly, and this is only the beginning. We are committed to being present and intentional in the lead-up to Kelowna HOOPFEST from June 5th to 7th.” In addition to the Bandits School Tour, Julius and members of Bandits staff had the opportunity to connect with various Okanagan business, media and community leaders, including attending the 51st annual Western Canada Tournament at Kelowna Secondary and a Kelowna Rockets hockey game. ###

Montréal Announces Return of Hometown Star Guerrier

February 11, 2026
Montréal native and team captain returns after a standout 2025 season with the Alliance

Montréal annonce le retour de la vedette locale Guerrier

February 11, 2026
Le Montréalais d'origine et capitaine de l'équipe fait son retour après une saison 2025 exceptionnelle avec l'Alliance.