Vancouver Bandits Catch Fire Versus Ottawa, Win 6th Straight Home Game

Zulfi Sheikh • June 23, 2024

Langley Events Centre remains unconquered by opponents in 2024 as the Vancouver Bandits picked up a 104-67 win over the Ottawa BlackJacks on Saturday to remain perfect at home.


Vancouver is now a flawless 6-0 in front of their own fans this season, showing opposing teams the dangers of entering B.C. with the wire-to-wire victory.


“There’s a lot that’s special about this building,” Bandits’ head coach Kyle Julius said following the win. “The fans, organization … it’s really good. We’re going to be a tough team to beat in this building.”


Koby McEwen led the way with a game-high 28 points, six rebounds and five assists – including a game-winning three that got the West-leading Bandits back in the win column. He got plenty of help in the victory with Nick Ward and Zach Copeland chipping in 18 and 15 points each while Duane Notice and Kur Jongkuch (5-for-5 from the field) finished with 13 and 11 points off the bench, respectively.


Tazé Moore finished with just four points, below his usual 20.1 points per game, but found other ways to fill the stat sheet as the import racked up eight rebounds and 13 assists. His playmaking prowess tied the most dimes by a player in a single game this season. 


On the other side, Brandon Sampson led the way with a team-high 17 points while going 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. He was helped by James Jean-Marie’s 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench and Zena Edosomwan’s nine-point, nine-rebound performance.


The 37-point defeat marked Ottawa’s largest loss of the season and the 67 second points scored was its fewest in 2024.


“We just came out flat,” said BlackJacks head coach James Derouin postgame. “It felt like they were locked and loaded from the opening tip-off and we didn’t have enough to respond tonight.” 


Entering the game, the Bandits had a clear edge when it came to size inside the paint. Edosomwan had the unenviable task of trying to protect Ottawa’s rim from the duo of Karnik and Ward as the four other BlackJack starters were more perimeter focused. And it didn’t take long for Vancouver to take advantage of that fact as they began the contest on a 20-6 run, almost all of which came right at the basket. 


And although Edosomwan slammed down a highlight reel dunk at the 0:38 mark of the frame, it didn’t slow down the Bandits as they led 29-12 after 10 minutes of action.


Vancouver ended up finishing with 50 points in the paint (+18) while shooting 51 per cent from two-point range.


Things only slipped away further from the BlackJacks in the second quarter as the Bandits opened the floodgates from deep. Vancouver drilled five threes in the frame, compared to Ottawa’s one -- their only triple in the half -- as the gap ballooned to 30 points.


Much of that production came from McEwen as he scored 11 points in the quarter, hitting three shots from beyond the arc, earning the Bandits a 61-31 lead at the break. The Toronto native was on a torrid pace through the first 20 minutes of action as he scored a game-high 20 points through the first half on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.


“Just a straight killer,” Julius said of McEwen’s growth this season while reflecting on the scoring outburst. “Competitive fire through the roof and incredible work ethic … he’s just tough as nails.”

Ottawa did pick things up defensively in the third quarter, holding Vancouver to just 16 points, but their offence wasn’t able to capitalize. The BlackJacks scored 19 points of their own -- a Sampson triple in the dying seconds of the frame making it 77-50 ahead of the fourth.


And although the import wasn’t done there, scoring Ottawa’s first 11 points in the final frame that helped cut the deficit to as little as 17 points, it proved too little too late. 


Vancouver took a 94-64 lead into Target Score Time and never let up from there. The Bandits missed just one shot from that point while limiting the BlackJacks to one made basket before McEwen ended things courtesy of a left-wing triple.


The 37-point margin was the second-largest point differential in a game this season, just shy of the 43-point mark set by the Niagara River Lions on May 30. Everything went right for the Bandits as they made 19 more shots, grabbed eight more rebounds, dished 12 more assists and forced 19 turnovers (+8).


Up Next


The Bandits will stay at home, hosting the Edmonton Stingers next Saturday for a rematch between the Western Conference’s top two squads as part of the club’s Filipino Heritage Game. 


Tickets for the must-watch game are on sale now at this link. 


Individuals interested in ticket flexibility or purchasing a bundle of Bandits tickets are invited to consider a flex pack. More information can be found at thebandits.ca/tickets or by speaking with a   Bandits representative by calling (604) 455-8881 or emailing tickets@thebandits.ca.


A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

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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.

Former NBA Draft Pick Stephen Zimmerman Signs With Vancouver Bandits

By Bandits Staff • July 24, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that the club has signed former NBA draft selection and decorated overseas champion Stephen Zimmerman for the remainder of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. A 7-foot centre hailing from Las Vegas, Nev., Zimmerman was selected 41st overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2016 NBA Draft and appeared in 19 games as a rookie. With the signing, Zimmerman becomes the first-ever NBA draft selection to sign with the Bandits. “Zimmerman brings additional size to our team and experience from the highest levels of the game around the world,” said Bandits general manager Kyle Julius. “His signing is part of our strategic plan to ensure we have a strong roster to compete in the CEBL playoffs.” A veteran of 10 professional seasons, Zimmerman most recently played for Gigantes de San Francisco in the Dominican Republic during the 2025-26 season where he helped lead the club to a Dominican LNB championship. He also earned championships in the Czech Republic, guiding ERA Nymburk to both a Czech Cup and Czech NBL title in 2021. His journeyman career overseas includes previous stops in Germany, Poland, Australia, Japan, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Malaysia and China. In addition, Zimmerman played parts of four NBA G League seasons with the Orlando Magic’s affiliate (Erie Bayhawks, now Osceola Magic) in 2016-17, the Los Angeles Lakers’ affiliate (South Bay Lakers) in 2017-18, the New York Knicks’ affiliate (Westchester Knicks) in 2018-19, and San Antonio Spurs’ affiliate (Austin Spurs) in 2022-23. Internationally, Zimmerman represents the United States. He competed for his country at the senior level at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup and 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and won a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2014. Before playing professionally, Zimmerman played one season of NCAA DI basketball for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). As a freshman, he started 24 of 26 games played and averaged 26.2 minutes, 10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots per game while shooting .477 per cent from the field.

Bandits Regain Top Spot in West after road win in Winnipeg

By Rois Chand • July 24, 2026
WINNIPEG, MB - July 23, 2026 - The Vancouver Bandits are back in the win column after a second half comeback against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Thursday night. The Bandits defeated the Sea Bears 92-77 to take them atop of the Western Conference, now tied with the Sea Bears at 13-8. “For the past two years, we’ve been in first place and we’ve been hunted. We’re the hunters this time around,” said Bandits head coach Ransford Brempong. Vancouver trailed for most of the game, and by as many as 14 points, before exploding in the final 20 minutes of the game. The Bandits shot just one-for-seven from three point range in the first half. “We’ll make mistakes but keep the game close and see if we can steal it, which is what we did.” Vancouver’s defence stepped up in the second half, holding Winnipeg’s best stars to a rough shooting night. Isiah Osborne, who averages 12.9 points, was held to four points on two-for-eight field goal shooting, while Emmanuel Akot made just one field goal for four points. CEBL scoring leader Teddy Allen scored 26 points, but he took 22 shots to do it and committed four turnovers. Jarkel Joiner’s 24 points once again led the Bandits. He also recorded three assists and two steals. “He’s quick and he’s strong,” said Sea Bears head coach Mike Raimbault about Jarkel Joiner. Joiner said there’s a “fight” within the team, especially with a close schedule remaining. “We know we’re fighting for homecourt advantage,” he said Bremprong praised the Bandits for sticking together in an unorthodox season. “This team is extremely resilient,” said Brempong about the Bandits’ second comeback win in three games. “The year has already thrown punches. We got thrown into the fire, but the fire is also a place where iron gets sharpened.” The paint was dominated by the Bandits as they scored 62 of their 92 points in the paint, including countless ferocious dunks from Tyrese Samuel and James Karnik. Rookie big man Dominic Parolin also poured in seven points, eight rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes of action. “We got those guys because they’re big boys and they’re Canadian,” said Brempong. Tied at 70 heading into the fourth, Tevin Brown was the answer Vancouver needed, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the final frame. Brown’s play catapulted a 22-7 scoring run in the fourth quarter to clinch the win. A putback layup by Karnik was the game winner. He finished with a season-high 17 points and season-high 12 rebounds. “To slay a Sea Bear isn't easy,” said Brempong. The Bandits will return home for a quick one game home stand on Saturday against the Saskatoon Mamba at 6 p.m. Tickets can be found at thebandits.ca . “Every game is a new challenge.”

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