Vancouver Bandits Advance to CEBL Championship, Defeat Calgary Surge

Zulfi Sheikh • August 10, 2024

Mitch Creek’s 27-point performance helped the Vancouver Bandits stave off a late Calgary Surge rally on Friday for an 89-87 win at Verdun Auditorium. 


The import forward set a franchise single-game playoff scoring record with the game-high performance as he helped the Bandits advance to their second-ever Championship Final appearance. 


Helping the Aussie on the night was league MVP Tazé Moore who finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Nick Ward who put up 17 points, eight rebounds and five blocks off the bench. 


Zach Copeland had arguably his quietest game of the season, finishing with just nine points on 3-for-11 shooting, but that didn’t stop Bandits’ head coach Kyle Julius from having the import guard on the floor for Target Score Time. 


“There’s no way we can play (Target Score Time) without Zach,” Bandits head coach Kyle Julius said post-game reflecting on the victory. 


Julius’ gamble paid off as Copeland received a pass off a Koby McEwen offensive rebound and drilled his lone three of the contest to send Vancouver to the Championship Final. 

On the other side, the Surge fell just short of a second consecutive Final appearance despite erasing what was once an 11-point second half deficit. Leading the charge was Corey Davis Jr. who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. 


“We knew it was going to be a very hard-nosed basketball game,” Davis Jr. said following the loss. 


“The ball didn’t land the way we wanted to, we had multiple chances to win the game … the basketballs didn’t let the ball bounce our way.” 


Behind Davis. Jr was Malcolm Duvivier who scored 16 points off the bench with on four-for-eight shooting from distance and Sean Miller-Moore who put up 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. 


It came as no surprise that two of the league’s top defensive squads opened Friday’s contest by mucking things up inside. Neither team found any early success in the paint as Vancouver and Calgary both shot below 40 per cent inside the arc through the first 10 minutes of play. 


What ended up splitting the difference was a quarter-ending 9-2 run by the Surge courtesy of timely shooting from distance. Calgary knocked down back-to-back-to-back triples -- capped off by Justin Jackson hitting one from the right corner at the buzzer – to lead 23-20 after the first frame. 


It was short-lived, however, as the Bandits went on a 9-2 run of their own in the second quarter. 


Creek spearheaded the charge as he scored all nine of those points as part of a game-high 18 in the first half. Vancouver made sure not to waste the import’s effort as Copeland drilled a step back jumper from the left elbow in the dying seconds of the frame to put the Bandits up 47-41, the largest lead of either team at the break. 


“It’s about taking what comes,” Creek said on his record-setting performance after the win. “It’s a reflection of the team and culture we have … it’s not about points or steals … it’s about winning.” 


After struggling to score against the Surge’s interior defence in the opening quarter, Vancouver found success in the second. By halftime, the Bandits had shot 52 per cent from inside the arc for 20 points in the paint (plus-12). 


Vancouver kept that trend going as action resumed in the second half, going on a 10-0 run in third quarter, scoring all but two of those points at the rim. The most emphatic basket of that run came courtesy of a fastbreak alley-oop dunk from Moore off a slick feed from Copeland. 


And despite trailing by as many as 11 points in the third, the Surge responded with an 11-4 run that once again came courtesy of knocking down shots from distance. Calgary hit three triples in the final three minutes of the frame to cut the deficit to 70-67 ahead of the fourth. 


The Surge hit 12 threes (plus-seven) through the first 30 minutes of play on a 44 per cent clip, once again proving how three-point shooting can be the great equalizer. 


Calgary hit four more threes in the fourth quarter -- a Davis Jr. triple in Target Score Time even briefly giving the Surge an 83-82 lead – but ultimately it wasn’t enough. Ward threw down a dunk and split a pair of free throws and Creek drilled a three before Copeland supplanted himself as the game’s hero by knocking down the game winner. 


“It was a dog fight,” Surge head coach Tyrell Vernon said reflecting on the loss. “I’m proud of my group, it’s not the way we wanted it to end but definitely proud … sometimes (shots) don’t fall.” 


Vancouver’s efficiency inside the arc (50 per cent) proved too much for Calgary to overcome who simply couldn’t keep up, shooting 25 per cent on two-point shots. The Bandits ended up a plus-28 (42-14) on points in the paint. 


“For us it’s always about one more thing and right now it’s about one more win and we’ll be champions,” said Creek. 


Up Next


With the win, the Bandits await the winner of Friday’s Eastern Conference Final between the Niagara River Lions and host Montréal Alliance. Sunday’s championship game tips off at 3 p.m. PT on TSN. 


All CW24 games will be televised live on TSN and RDS in Canada, NLSE in the United States, and available to stream on CEBL+, TSN+ and Courtside 1891 for subscribers outside North America. 

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Bandits Claim Top Spot in West with Statement Win over Sea Bears

By Gary Ahuja • August 3, 2026
“Enjoy this win and be proud of what we’ve accomplished up until now, but the hunt isn’t over.”  That was the message from Bandits interim head coach Rans Brempong after Vancouver locked up first place in the Canadian Elite Basketball League's Western Conference with a dominant 114-90 victory over the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Sunday before a sold-out Fan Appreciation Day crowd on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. The one-sided victory — Vancouver never trailed and led by as many as 33 points — clinched top spot in the Canadian Elite Basketball League's Western Conference. The Bandits finished atop the West with a 15-9 record while Winnipeg settled for second at 14-10. As a result, the road to the CEBL Championship will go through Langley. Vancouver will host the Edmonton Stingers on Thursday (Aug. 6) at 7:00pm in the Western Conference semi-final, and with a win would also host the conference final on Aug. 8 with a berth in the CEBL Finals on the line. The game was delayed by 90 minutes following travel disruptions which prevented the Sea Bears from arriving until game-day morning. “We had something to play for today. We wanted first place, we wanted home-court advantage,” said Bandits guard Mychal Mulder. “It’s games like this we get out of bed for, so we were excited and took advantage of the opportunity.” Vancouver was all over the Sea Bears from the opening whistle, leading 17-4 midway through the first quarter and by 21 at halftime. Mulder and Mitch Creek led the team with 29 and 28 points, respectively, while Shamar Givance added 16 points with John Knight III chipping in a dozen. Givance set a new CEBL single-game record with 18 assists. As a team, the Bandits had 36 assists on their 46 field goals. “We knew it was important to play with pace. I think we also shared the ball really well. Shamar had 18 assists and pushed the ball up and down the floor all night. I think everybody did a great job sharing the ball,” Mulder said. “And having (reigning league MVP Mitch Creek) back was super helpful. I think he puts a lot of guys in the right position to succeed, and it's been super helpful for the whole group.” Emmanuel Akot led the Sea Bears with 20 points while Teddy Allen – the league’s leading scorer at 27.8 points per game – was held to half that, finishing with 14. “There was a lot to like tonight. I liked the energy right from the beginning and our attention to detail,” Brempong said. “We were sharp. The mindset we have has been we are on a hunt, and you have to be sharp to hunt something.” General manager (and former head coach) Kyle Julius was in attendance for Sunday's game after stepping down from coaching to pursue an opportunity in the Chinese Basketball Association. “Obviously, everything that we're doing is his blueprint,” Brempong said. “He's the one who developed sort of the blueprint and got the players here. To have him sitting beside me, giving me advice that he saw, was a comforting feeling.” The focus now shifts to Thursday's single-elimination playoff game against an Edmonton team that split the season series 2-2 with Vancouver. The Bandits enter with wins in three of their past four games. “I think momentum is important. I always say it's a game of runs; that applies to the season as well,” Mulder said. “The whole year, the whole summer, we've been trying to peak at the right time,” Mulder said. “I think we're playing the style of basketball we've been working toward for months, and we're finally peaking at the right time.” -

Game Start Delay Notice - Sunday, August 2

By CEBL Staff • August 2, 2026
Tomorrow's Canadian Elite Basketball League game in Vancouver between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and the Vancouver Bandits has been moved from 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET to 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET due to travel disruptions. All tickets for the game remain valid. For any further ticketing issues or inquiries, please contact tickets@thebandits.ca.

Bandits Fall To Montreal on Final Road Game of Regular Season

By Roid Chand • July 29, 2026
A season-high 25 points from Shamar Givance wasn’t enough as the Vancouver Bandits came up short in the final road game of the season. The Montreal Alliance defeated the Bandits 87-82 on Tuesday night, a game where three Bandits recorded their highest point totals of the season. Along with his 25 points, Givance also added eight rebounds and five assists in 36 minutes of action. “He was the definition of a warrior tonight,” said Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong. Givance, who came off the bench, took a bulk of the guard minutes after leading scorer Jarkel Joiner exited the game in the first half. “He picked up 94 feet and he went over every screen. It’s commendable. That’s why we brought Shamar here for the effort he gives,” said Brempong. Stephen Zimmerman in just his second game with Vancouver recorded 13 points and six rebounds. Jarrell Eddie scored a season-high 17 points and notched his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. “Certain guys were thrust into positions they’re not normally in and that’s growth,” said Brempong. Both teams struggled offensively, particularly outside the paint, but what they lacked in offence was made up by their defence. The Bandits shot 9-33 from beyond the arc, and the Alliance cashed in on just 11 of the 32 three point opportunities. The Bandits recorded seven blocks and six steals, while the Alliance recorded four blocks and six steals. Montreal native Tyrese Samuel recorded 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. He played just 22 minutes after picking up two early fouls in the first quarter. No Canadian player has scored more points than Tyrese Samuel’s 358 points this season. Neither team separated themselves as the game stayed close for all four quarters. The largest lead of the game was eight, which belonged to Montreal. Vancouver exploded in the third quarter and outscored Montreal 27-17, yet their scoring wouldn’t translate to the fourth quarter. The Bandits offence lacked consistency all night, scoring just 16 points in the final frame. Quincy Guerrier led the Alliance with 26 points and seven rebounds. The Bandits will head home for the final game of the regular season against the Winnipeg Sea Bears. The Bandits (14-9) currently sit top of the Western Conference while the Sea Bears (13-10) sit in second place. “The mission is still the same.”

Bandits Pick Up Win Over Saskatoon, Secure Playoff Home Court Advantage

By Rois Chand • July 26, 2026
Five players were in double figures as the Vancouver Bandits defeated the Saskatoon Mamba 104-97 on Saturday night. The Bandits led for the entirety of the game, leading by as many as 17 points. Vancouver now sits atop of the Western Conference at 14-8, topping the Winnipeg Sea Bears (13-9). This win also secured home court advantage in the playoffs for the Bandits, who will officially begin the postseason on Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Tevin Brown led the Bandits in scoring with 23 points and seven three pointers made. “My teammates did a good job of getting me open,” said Brown. “They just let me play my game. (We) play a fast-paced offence and that’s where I thrive.” James Karnik followed with 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. The Bandits jumped out to an early 31-15 lead as Brown scored 11 of his 23 points in the first quarter. The Mamba went on a 29-21 run in the second quarter to cut the lead to 52-44 by halftime. Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong applauded his team for their resilience in the wire-to-wire win, even as the lead dwindled. “They might fight back but (we) still have to stay aggressive,” said Brempong. “Credit to Saskatoon. They made their run, but I’m more proud of the team and the resilience they’ve shown during the last handful of games.” All 11 players who played tonight recorded a made basket. Former NBA draft pick Stephen Zimmerman made his Bandits debut, recording two points and four rebounds in just three minutes of action. “It’s going to take everybody. Whether you come off the bench, I don’t care. Be strong enough that you affect the game and you impact winning,” said Brempong. Brempong said the Bandits are still bought into the mentality of being “on the hunt”, despite being first in the Western Conference. Brempong also said they can’t take their recent success for granted. “Don’t let it lull you to sleep. You still have to stay sharp,” he said. A layup from Shamar Givance won the game for the Bandits in target time. He finished with nine points and eight assists. Next, the Bandits will head on the road for a matchup with the Montreal Alliance on Tuesday, before wrapping up the season at home against the Winnipeg Sea Bears.

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