Bandits Erase 14-Point Deficit To Beat Sea Bears

The Vancouver Bandits delivered one of their biggest wins of the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League season, rallying from a 14-point deficit to defeat the Winnipeg Sea Bears 92-77 in a showdown for first place in the Western Conference.

Facing one of the league’s toughest road environments, Vancouver outscored Winnipeg 22-7 after taking its first lead late in the fourth quarter, using relentless defence, dominant rebounding and efficient interior scoring to secure arguably its most complete comeback victory of the season.

The Bandits entered the game looking to rebound after surrendering a fourth-quarter lead in Calgary two nights earlier. 

Winnipeg, meanwhile, was coming off a record-setting 109-80 victory over the Montreal Alliance and had an opportunity to secure home-court advantage with another win.

Instead, Vancouver responded with one of its most disciplined performances of the year with the Sea Bears controlling the game early behind Teddy Allen with the opening quarter belonging to Winnipeg.

Fresh off his 54-point performance earlier in the week, Teddy Allen scored 13 points in the first quarter while Xavier Moon controlled the pace and orchestrated the Sea Bears offence.

Winnipeg shot 60% from the floor during the opening 10 minutes and built a lead that reached 14 points. Vancouver struggled to find rhythm offensively, particularly from beyond the three-point line.

The one constant for the visitors was Jarkel Joiner who saw the veteran guard repeatedly attack the basket, keeping Vancouver within striking distance despite the slow start with Winnipeg carrying a 29-21 advantage into the second quarter.

Although the scoreboard still favoured Winnipeg at the break, Vancouver had begun laying the foundation for its comeback considering that they trailed 51-47 at the half despite making only one of seven three-point attempts but they controlled nearly every other area of the game.

At the half, Vancouver led the rebounding battle 27-21, owned a 30-24 edge in paint scoring and held an 18-11 advantage in bench production.

The perimeter shots were not falling, but the Bandits remained committed to attacking the basket and creating second-chance opportunities rather than forcing outside looks.

The third quarter turns into a battle of attrition noting that Vancouver’s persistence continued following halftime.

Joiner remained the catalyst offensively, finishing the third quarter with 24 points while consistently getting downhill and creating quality scoring opportunities. 

Late in the period, he briefly exited after appearing to favour his arm following a drive to the basket. 

He later returned, with the Sea Bears broadcast reporting the injury did not appear to be serious.

While Joiner supplied the offence, James Karnik changed the complexion of the game with his effort around the basket.

The forward relentlessly attacked the offensive glass, extending possessions and wearing down Winnipeg’s frontcourt.

Karnik finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and seven offensive boards, giving Vancouver repeated second chances during the comeback.

Lloyd Pandi also delivered one of the game’s defining hustle plays. Chasing a loose ball near the sideline, Pandi intentionally threw the ball off a Winnipeg player while falling out of bounds, allowing the Bandits to retain possession.

The sequence perfectly captured Vancouver’s commitment to winning the effort plays.

At the defensive end, the Bandits began forcing turnovers and disrupting Winnipeg’s offensive rhythm after trailing for most of the night, Vancouver entered the fourth quarter tied 70-70.

 Fourth-quarter execution completes comeback noting that the game completely changed over the final 10 minutes.

With 5:42 remaining, Dominic Parolin calmly converted two free throws to give Vancouver its first lead of the night at 76-74.

It proved to be the turning point.

After a difficult offensive outing in Calgary earlier in the week, Parolin responded with one of his best all-around performances since joining the Bandits.

The Coquitlam native finished with seven points, eight rebounds, two steals and a game-best plus-30 rating while anchoring Vancouver’s defence throughout the second half.

Tevin Brown then delivered the offensive spark that broke the game open.

After scoring just two points through the first three quarters, Brown erupted for 10 points in the fourth, knocking down the game’s biggest three-pointer before adding transition baskets and timely finishes around the rim.

Tyrese Samuel also bounced back in impressive fashion.

Rather than forcing offence after a difficult outing against Calgary, the reigning CEBL Canadian Player of the Year simplified his approach. Samuel focused on rebounding, screening, defending and moving the basketball before attacking only when opportunities presented themselves.

His defining moment came midway through the fourth quarter.

Samuel exploded down the lane for a thunderous dunk that extended Vancouver’s lead to 83-74 entering Target Score Time, capping an 11-0 Bandits run that completely shifted momentum.

Though he finished with just six points, Samuel added four rebounds and four assists while making an impact that extended well beyond the scoresheet.

Vancouver never looked back.

John Knight III forced a key late steal, Shamar Givance converted in transition, Brown added another basket, and Karnik capped the night by tipping home the game’s final points.

Physical play, not perimeter shooting, proves decisive with the stats underscoring exactly how Vancouver won with the Bandits shooting 50 per cent from the field making only three of 15 three-point attempts managing to overwhelm Winnipeg inside.

Vancouver outscored the Sea Bears 62-34 in the paint, dominated the rebounding battle 50-28, grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and finished with 40 bench points compared to Winnipeg’s 16.

The Bandits also forced 15 steals and generated 16 fast-break points as their defensive pressure intensified throughout the second half.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, shot just 41% from the floor and 24% from beyond the arc after a scorching first quarter. 

Once Vancouver tightened defensively, the Sea Bears struggled to generate consistent offence.

Beyond the standings, Thursday’’s performance may ultimately be remembered as one of Vancouver’s defining wins of the season.

The Bandits erased a 14-point road deficit against one of the CEBL’s top teams, took their first lead with less than six minutes remaining and closed the game on a dominant 16-3 run.

Most impressively, they accomplished it without relying on outside shooting.

Instead, Vancouver trusted its identity — defending at a high level, controlling the glass, attacking the paint and receiving contributions throughout the lineup.

The Bandits will now return home looking to carry that momentum into another key Western Conference matchup. 

Vancouver hosts the Saskatoon Mamba on Saturday night at Langley Events Centre, with the opening tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. PT.