Struggling Sea Bears fall to Surge

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This article was published 17/07/2025 (254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A clutch three in Target Time by Winnipeg Sea Bears star Jalen Harris got the 7,836 fans at the Canada Life Centre on their feet.

Seconds later, Calgary Surge guard Evan Gilyard Jr. sent them to the exits by drilling a mid-range jumper to reach the winning score and give the visitors a 93-89 victory over the Sea Bears.

“We just wanted to get a stop,” said Sea Bears centre Simi Shittu. “I felt like we had the game, and had a good chance at winning, but obviously, he made a tough shot. We made it as tough as we could for them, but at the end of the day, sometimes things fall and sometimes they don’t.”

Winnipeg can’t solve Calgary as they have now lost five straight against their Western Conference rival.

The loss drops the Sea Bears to 6-10 on the year and 2-8 all-time versus Calgary. The result clinched the Surge a playoff spot and improved their record to 12-5.

“They just played harder than us through stretches. We had a couple stretches throughout the game where we didn’t defend well as a team, or individually,” said point guard Will Richardson. “We didn’t come together and get stops when we needed it.”

It was a close game all night, but Winnipeg’s sloppy offence and lack of bench production is what did them in.

The Sea Bears entered the contest in last place in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in field goal (41.2) and three-point percentage (29.5), as well as points per game (84.7). They managed to shoot above their season averages by finishing at 45.1 per cent from the field and 37.9 per cent from deep, but they were careless with the basketball and lost the turnover battle 17-7. Calgary outscored them 22-10 off mistakes.

The Sea Bears bench has now been outduelled by the opposition’s second unit in six of their last seven games as the Surge surpassed them 20-5 in the category.

“I think it was a great game. I think we gave tremendous effort. I think at the most crucial possessions we had some turnovers,” said head coach Mike Taylor. “But you know, in Target Time, and especially in that third quarter, some of the turnovers and defensive breakdowns gave them an advantage and we were playing from behind… In winning time, we got to be better.”

New additions Richardson and Trevon Scott made their home debuts after signing last week to replace Terry Roberts (Brooklyn Nets) and Jaylin Williams (Dallas Mavericks) who left temporarily to play in the NBA Summer League. Canadian forward Maurice Calloo made his season debut for Winnipeg after signing on Monday.

Richardson, who was most recently in the NBA G League with the Grand Rapids Gold, had the biggest impact out of the newbies by hitting 9-of-13 from the field for 23 points while also adding seven assists and eight boards in a game-high 34:55 minutes.

“He’s a really high IQ point guard. He’s been well coached, let’s give credit to the University of Oregon… You can tell he really knows how to play,” said Taylor. “He’s enjoying our situation, he’s enjoying the game, and I love a natural floor general like that who organizes the game, that gets the ball to the right players. He’s really a quarterback out there, and it’s something that I love.”

Richardson had 18 points in Friday’s 94-70 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers and Scott also made a strong first impression in that one with 16 points.

“My teammates help me out a lot, putting me in the right position. I’m still a little lost out there. They talk me through the plays and where to be at, but I think I can play a little bit harder and stop taking a couple possessions off,” said Richardson.

Home court wasn’t too kind to Scott on the offensive end as he scored 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting, but the former Cleveland Cavalier came up huge on the glass with 16 rebounds. Calloo recorded two points in 6:31 of floor time.

The Sea Bears will have a tough decision to make when Roberts and Williams come back to town, which they’re expected to, as teams can only dress four imports on game day.

“I haven’t thought about that. It’s out of my control, bro,” said Richardson. “I just play the game when I can get in and we’ll see what happens.”

Harris hit five threes to end with 22 points and Shittu added 19. Former Portland Trail Blazers/Dallas Mavericks forward Greg Brown III led Calgary with 20 points.

The Sea Bears are back in action on Sunday in Montreal when they take on the Alliance (6-9) at 3 p.m. CT.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca