Lancers Cruise to 129–86 Home Opener Win

The Loyalist Lancers put on an offensive showcase in their home opener on Friday night, cruising to a 129–86 victory over the La Cité Coyotes. From the opening tip, the Lancers controlled the pace, exploding for 39 first-quarter points and never looking back.

Loyalist's shooting was red-hot from start to finish, hitting 58.4% from the field and an impressive 48.1% from three. The team's balanced attack featured eight players scoring in double figures, with contributions from across the lineup.

Romain McCalla set the tone early, scoring 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5 made threes in just 17 minutes of action. Jalen Carter-Julien anchored the paint with a dominant 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Demetrius Empey added a near-perfect night with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

The Lancers' depth was on full display, as the bench combined for 65 points, led by strong performances from Jaheim Foster (13 points), Malakai McDevitt (12 points), Tai Ajose (13 points), and Andrew Plaschka (7 points). Loyalist's ability to run the floor also proved overwhelming, outscoring La Cité 46–16 in fast break points.

Loyalist's defensive pressure created havoc all night, forcing 37 turnovers and converting them into 47 points. The Lancers also piled up 22 steals, led by standout efforts from Kobe Tablate (4), Carter-Julien (4), and McCalla (2).

Despite La Cité's strong third-quarter push, highlighted by 15 points from Besderno Emilcar and 14 from Daniel Ndikumana, the early Loyalist lead proved insurmountable.