Vancouver Bandits were coming off their worst performance of the season, a June 30 loss to Edmonton Stingers, just 48 hours before they hosted the Niagara River Lions on Canada Day at Langley Events Centre (LEC).
July 1 was a different story, as the Bandits overcame an early 10-point deficit to win, 105-83.
Bandits’ Tazé Moore described the team’s mindset when they trailed 21-11 early.
"We knew what we needed to do. Mainly just keeping our character in check. Making sure we keep our heads up and our chests out and take it one play at a time," Moore commented.
It was a change of attitude after their 107-88 loss to Edmonton.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Bandits home streak ended by Edmonton
“The other game, we came out complaining, crying, running to the refs after every problem,"Moore said.
"The only way to beat us, is us. So, we just have to keep the guys together, including myself being the head of the snake and everything, trying to make sure everybody stays on one accord, and we just take it one play at a time and just keep going."
After trimming the first quarter deficit down to three points, the Bandits turned the game in the next 10 minutes as they took an 11-point lead to the locker room.
River Lions did pull to within four points early in the third quarter only to watch Vancouver respond with a 19-4 run to end the period.
Koby McEwen led all scorers with 22 points, all of which came in the first half. Zach Copeland and Nick Ward added 18 points and Moore had his second triple double of the season with 21 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
Bandits coach and general manager Kyle Julius said he told Moore to be in attack mode and not wait for the game to come to him.
“When he does that, he makes everyone better,” Julius said. “I thought that was a complete team win. The energy was there.”
And with his team in foul trouble – three players had four fouls in the second half – Julius said the team’s bench gave a great lift.
“The guys were called up and they were ready.”
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Bandits team unveils special Terry Fox jerseys
Next for the Bandits, a showdown in Edmonton against the Stingers on Friday, July 5 with top spot in the Western Conference on the line.
Vancouver will return home to LEC Sunday, July 7, to play the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Tip-off is 4 p.m.