The Thursday night CEBL double header concludes with two teams jockeying for position in the league standings as Edmonton (6-4) plays host to Hamilton (7-4) at Expo Centre.

(Tickets available at TicketMaster. Watch via CEBL TV or the CBC Gem App ).

Edmonton is the only team in the CEBL to defeat the league’s top team, Niagara, on two occasions this season. The Stingers knocked off the River Lions, 105-99 , in its last home game June 28 and will look to carry this momentum into Thursday night’s game against Hamilton. Edmonton is 5-1 at home this season and trail the Honey Badgers by just a half-game for second place in the standings.

The first meeting between Edmonton and Hamilton marked the inaugural game for the Honey Badgers. The 23-point win ( 106-83 ) for Hamilton marks its largest margin of victory this season. In fact, the Honey Badgers have only won two other times by more than 10 points ( May 22 at Fraser Valley - 14, and June 12 vs. Niagara - 12 ). In their second meeting on June 14, Hamilton needed 22-point performances from its two leading scorers, Demetrius Denzel-Dyson and Ricky Tarrant Jr., in addition to a fourth-quarter comeback to win 90-87 at Expo Centre.

While the two teams have been nearly even in giving the ball up against each other ( Turnovers : Edmonton 29, Hamilton 28), the Honey Badgers have made the Stingers pay for their mistakes, scoring 48 points off Edmonton turnovers, compared to just 28 by the Stingers.

The Honey Badgers have struggled from the charity stripe as of late. Over its past six contests, the team has failed to shoot better than .750 in each game but one - June 14 at Edmonton, when Hamilton went 28-for-31 (.900). As far as Stingers’ shooting is concerned, the team is a woeful .180 (9-for-50) from beyond the arc against the Honey Badgers.

Edmonton, who leads the league in rebounding (42.7 rpg), outscored Hamilton 100-78 in the paint during its first two contests, and will need to pound the rock again inside if they want to increase their chances of winning. It’s going to be a challenge without one of Edmonton’s best players in the lineup.

Local reports suggest that Stingers captain Jordan Baker, who has contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds in the season series against Hamilton, will be away from the team on Thursday night for personal reasons (his wedding/honeymoon).

Hamilton newcomer, Caleb Agada will look for another strong performance after filling the stat sheet during the team’s 108-96 loss to Niagara on June 26. The Canadian-Nigerian guard recorded 19 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 28 minutes during his debut.

A win for Hamilton would guarantee the season series and could play an important role in determining where teams finish at the conclusion of this first CEBL campaign heading into CEBL Championship Weekend.

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

Edmonton (6-4) Hamilton (7-4)

0-2   Head-to-Head      2-0

85.0     PPG    98.0

.456 (67-147)     FG%   .458 (66-144)

.180 (9-50)     3FG%   .345 (20-58)

.628 (27-43)     FT%   .880 (44-50)

83 (29-54)   REB (OR-DR)     84 (27-57)

46     AST     37

29     TO     28

28   PTS off TO      48

49   BENCH PTS       42

May 12, 2019 at Hamilton: Hamilton 106, Edmonton 83

Leading scorers: Edmonton (G. Glaze, 17), Hamilton (J. Edwards, 26)

Leading rebounders: Edmonton (G. Glaze, 6), Hamilton (R. Ejim, 10)

June 14, 2019 at Edmonton: Hamilton 90, Edmonton 87

Leading scorers: Edmonton (M. Gueye, 19), Hamilton (Denzel-Dyson / Tarrant Jr., 22)

Leading rebounders: Edmonton (J. Baker, 10), Hamilton (R. Ejim, J. Rocca, 7)