Bandits cruise to 99-70 victory over Rattlers

Gary Ahuja • July 8, 2024

It was the Koby McEwen Show down the stretch.



McEwen scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and Target Score Time – setting a new professional high in the process – as the Vancouver Bandits hammered the Saskatchewan Rattlers 99-70 on Sunday afternoon at Langley Events Centre in Canadian Elite Basketball League action.


The 6-foot-4 guard hit half of his team’s 3-pointers –6-for-14 compared to 6-for-20 by the rest of the roster – but McEwen passed the credit to his teammates.


“I did force a couple of bad ones. Not proud of that, but a lot of the shots I got, I was open. And that’s a credit to my team because we have good players and everyone has to account for everybody,” he said. 


Sunday’s game featured a close first quarter with the Bandits up 23-20 after 10 minutes before the team locked down defensively, holding the Rattlers to 11 points in the period for a 49-31 advantage and a double-digit lead for the rest of the game. Saskatchewan did get the score to within 10 points in the opening minute of the fourth quarter before Vancouver quickly reestablished a commanding lead.


Vancouver improved to 8-1 on their home floor with an average margin of victory of more than 21 points. This was also the fifth time this season a team has failed to surpass 75 points against the Bandits, who are allowing a league-low 83.9 points per game. They are also the only CEBL teams with a points differential in triple digits at + 129 as they improved to 10-4 on the season.


“We just have guys who are willing to guard. I don’t think defence is a complicated thing … it is just all effort and guys being on the same page. Once you have effort and everyone on the same page, everything becomes easy,” McEwen said. 


The Bandits finished with 10 blocked shots, led by Kur Jongkuch’s three swats and two apiece from McEwen, Tazé Moore and Nick Ward, and one from Sam Maillet. 


While McEwen posted the gaudy number, he was one of five Vancouver players to reach double digits with Moore scoring 18 – as well as 13 rebounds and seven assists – Ward had 15 and eight boards while Duane Notice added 12 points, eight rebounds and five steals and Zach Copeland chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.


And that is what helps Vancouver so dangerous: balance.


“Basketball, especially at the pro level, is very ego driven, everyone is trying to get theirs. I think this team, everyone is just trying to win, we like each other, we hang out off the court. We are able to hold each other accountable; no one takes anything personal. Kyle and Dylan did a great job of getting a solid group of guys to come together,” McEwen said referencing head coach and general manager Kyle Julius and team president Dylan Kular.


This was the fifth time McEwen has led the team in scoring and for the season, he is at 18.8 per game.


“He means everything to this team. He is just an absolute force. His work ethic, his competitive nature, his fire, his personality, one of the best players I have ever had the opportunity to coach. He is our heartbeat, a big piece to what we are doing,” Julius said.


The loss was a seventh straight for the Rattlers, who fell to 5-9 on the season as they sit last in the Western Conference with six games to play.


“I think the Bandits did a great of picking up their defensive intensity. We had too many turnovers which led to some runouts and easy points for them,” said Saskatchewan assistant coach Eric Magdanz on the 10-minute second quarter where they game got away. “The Bandits shot the ball well and we didn’t and that was enough to sink the ship.”


For the game, Vancouver was nearly 42 percent from the field, including 35 percent from downtown while the Rattlers struggled at 31 percent from the field and just 21 percent from beyond the arc. 


Another key factor was turnovers with Saskatchewan committing 14 in the first half, compared to just seven after half-time.


The Rattlers’ Cody John had 17 to lead his team with Emmanuel Bandoumel and Teddy Allen each scoring 14.


The Bandits now hit the road for a pair of games, July 11 in Calgary against the Surge before a visit to Winnipeg to face the Sea Bears on July 13. Vancouver’s next home game at Langley Events Centre will be on July 18 as they complete the home-and-home series with Winnipeg. It is also the final regular season home contest for the Bandits and will be Fan Appreciation Game with a 7:00pm tip-off.

LATEST NEWS

By Bandits Staff December 13, 2025
Vancouver Bandits guard Kyle Mangas has signed a two-way contract to join the San Antonio Spurs. The news was announced Saturday by the NBA G League on social media. Mangas was a key member of the Bandits’ best season in franchise history as the club amassed a 19-5 record. During the 2025 summer campaign, Mangas finished top five in points (15.3), rebounds (4.6), assists (3.3) and steals (1.3). His stellar performance earned him a call up to the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA Summer League squad in July 2025. At the conclusion of the 2025 CEBL season, Mangas suited up for San Antonio’s NBA G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, dressing in 10 games. Mangas becomes the third player to sign an NBA two-way contract after playing for the Bandits; the most from any Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) franchise (2023: DJ Steward - Chicago Bulls, 2024: Tazé Moore - Portland Trail Blazers). Mangas is one of two Bandits players to have signed with an NBA organization in 2025-26. Tyrese Samuel signed an Exhibit 10 contract in September 2025 and is working his way towards a two-way contract. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter . Fans interested in learning more are kindly invited to subscribe to Bandits Insider for updates or contact the Bandits at 604-455-8881 or tickets@thebandits.ca.
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The Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) have teamed up with Envision Financial , a division of First West Credit Union, in a groundbreaking partnership that redefines the fan experience and deepens community connections. Under this multi-faceted agreement, the Bandits’ home court at Langley Events Centre will officially be known as “Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre.” This move marks a significant milestone in the Bandits’ growth and underscores Envision Financial’s deep commitment to the communities of British Columbia. The relationship extends well beyond venue naming, aligning both organizations around culture, youth development, and community engagement. “This partnership with Envision Financial represents an investment in the long-term growth of basketball in British Columbia,” said Dylan Kular, President of the Vancouver Bandits. “Their values align deeply with our commitment to community, accessibility, and creating meaningful experiences for families across British Columbia.” Beyond the naming rights, the partnership delivers impact: Heritage Series: Co-presented by Envision Financial, these marquee game nights will honour Indigenous, South Asian and Filipino communities, creating vibrant cultural celebrations for fans. School Tour: Envision Financial joins the Bandits Community Foundation to expand youth leadership and basketball education. Last season, the program visited 77 schools and hosted 12 free coaches’ clinics. “Partnering with the Vancouver Bandits is about creating something meaningful together, " says Tamara Hendsbee, President at Envision Financial. “By bringing culture and sport to the forefront, we can help communities flourish and open doors for youth to learn and grow. Naming the court is just the beginning; through the Heritage Series and School Tour, we’re proud to work alongside the Bandits to deliver experiences that unite fans and build stronger communities across British Columbia.”  This upcoming season the Bandits will carry forward this strategic collaboration with Envision Financial as a cornerstone of their game-day identity, cultural engagement and community legacy.
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By Bandits Staff November 19, 2025
The Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation announced the launch of its School Tour program for the 2025-26 school year. The program will see Vancouver Bandits’ Head Coach & General Manager, Kyle Julius, visit secondary schools across British Columbia to host basketball skill and training sessions with student-athletes and their teams. Entering its third year, this free-of-charge initiative is part of the Bandits’ ongoing commitment to fostering youth basketball and building community connections throughout the province. The tour will run from November to February and will make weekly stops in different cities. Starting this week, communities that will be visited within the first two weeks of the program include schools in Abbotsford, Mission, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. The full schedule will be announced soon as additional communities are confirmed. Julius, a passionate advocate for youth sports development and mentorship, will be working directly with student-athletes and volunteer coaches at each school visited to offer insights into the game while emphasizing key life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and discipline. Throughout the tour, Julius will provide each secondary school’s basketball program with dedicated and tailored practices along with motivational talks and training materials. Each visit aims to elevate the game of basketball in BC high schools and offer a unique opportunity for students and coaches to learn from BC’s only professional basketball coach. The School Tour program is proudly supported by Preston Chevrolet and NOVO Dental Centre, community-minded sponsors who believe in the value of sports as a catalyst for positive change. During the previous 2024-25 school year, the Vancouver Bandits School Tour and Julius visited with 77 high school teams across British Columbia from November 2024 to February 2025.

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