Second-half struggles on the defensive glass and poor free throw shooting proved costly for the Vancouver Bandits on Sunday night, July 9, at the Langley Events Centre.
The Bandits started the game 10-for-10 from the charity stripe, but made just two of their next 10 at one end of the floor, while at the other, the team surrendered 14 offensive rebounds.
Combined together and it was a 97-93 victory for the visiting Ottawa BlackJacks in Canadian Elite Basketball League action.
The win was a sixth-straight for the eastern conference leaders who improved to 10-5 on the season.
The loss was a second straight for the Bandits who saw their record slip to 5-8.
“We had a lot of guys just watching them cut, a lot of guys just standing there watching, thinking someone else was going to do it. A lot of those were in the second half and crunch time. Definitely frustrating,” said Bandits head coach Kyle Julius.
Through the first 30 minutes, Vancouver led for all but 2:10, including being ahead by 10 points in the third quarter. But following some substitutions by the Bandits, the BlackJacks were able to take advantage, tying the game at 73 after three quarters and then leading the entire fourth quarter and Target Score time.
Malcolm Duvivier led the Bandits with 18 points, but all of those came in the first three quarters. Giorgi Bezhanishvili and Nick Ward each scored 15 points while Duane Notice added 14, a dozen of which came from the three-point line. Ward also had 10 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
Double-double work. ⚡️
— Vancouver Bandits (@vancitybandits) July 10, 2023
Tonight’s @AWCanada Player of the Game: @IamNickWard #LikeABandit pic.twitter.com/Z2DrDurzvW
BlackJacks coach James Derouin said his team made a concentrated effort at trying to tire Ward out.
“That is really your only hope with Nick is that you can tire him out because there is not really anyone in the league who can guard him.”
READ ALSO: VIDEO: A foul-filled loss by Vancouver Bandits in Edmonton
Marlon Johnson Jr. also made his Vancouver debut with 13 points.
Julius said Johnson’s presence played a large factor in the Bandits’ offensive success as Vancouver became the first team in eight games to surpass 90 points against Ottawa. The Bandits finished with 27 assists on their 34 field goals, by far their highest assist numbers of the season.
Of those 27 assists, point guard Doug Herring Jr. finished with eight.
Brought the buckets and the hustle. 🔨
— Vancouver Bandits (@vancitybandits) July 10, 2023
Your @svncanada Warrior of the Game: @Worldwide1m #LikeABandit pic.twitter.com/4m9jjJo0xj
Both teams shot a high percentage from beyond the arc with Ottawa sinking 14-of-30 (46.7 per cent) while the Bandits were 13-for-29 (44.8 per cent).
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Revived Vancouver Bandits beat Edmonton Stingers
Next up for the Bandits is a visit from the Brampton Honey Badgers to Langley Events Centre on Friday, July 14. Game time is 7:30 p.m. PT.
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