The Vancouver Bandits concluded their three-game road trip with a 114-105 defeat against the Ottawa BlackJacks on Tuesday night, marking the end of their four-game winning streak. Despite a strong second-half performance where they outscored the BlackJacks 58-54, a late comeback effort fell short, leaving the Bandits trailing by as many as 18 points earlier in the game.

Bandits head coach Kyle Julius attributed the team's performance to fatigue. “We were tired. It’s been a long road trip and I thought we played tired,” Julius commented, adding that "A little bit of everything wasn't clicking.” This loss saw the Bandits score their third-lowest point total of the season. The BlackJacks, fueled by palpable home energy, established an early lead in the first quarter and maintained it throughout the game, heading into halftime with a 60-47 advantage after a dominant 28-18 second quarter.

Ottawa's victory was largely driven by exceptional performances from Matthew Cleveland and Justin Harmon, who combined for 71 points. Cleveland contributed 35 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Harmon added 36 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Cleveland acknowledged the Bandits' strong 5-1 record, stating, “That’s a great team right there so I knew coming in we had to play our A game.”

For Vancouver, Jarkel Joiner led the scoring with a team-high 25 points, his highest as a Bandit. Tyrese Samuel recorded 13 points and five rebounds, and Jaelen House achieved his third consecutive double-double with 24 points, 12 assists, and a season-high five steals, though he was ejected late in the fourth quarter after receiving his second technical foul.

Julius praised the BlackJacks' play and noted the significant improvement in the league's Eastern Conference, stating, “In years past (the conference) was quite weak, but at the moment it seems strong.” Defensive struggles were evident for the Bandits, as Ottawa shot efficiently, hitting 12-of-24 from three-point range and 45-of-74 from the field overall. Despite strong ball security with only 10 turnovers compared to Ottawa’s 21, and earning 37 free throws to Ottawa’s 16, the Bandits were outrebounded 46-27 and made fewer three-pointers (10-12).

Looking ahead, the Bandits will use the next few days to review film and regroup before returning to the West Coast for a three-game home stand. Their next game is Saturday against the Saskatoon Mamba at Prospera Place in Kelowna, followed by a rematch with the BlackJacks on June 13.