Teddy Allen Scores 27 points as Sea Bears Top Winless BlackJacks 93-80
Teddy Allen shook off a rough shooting night to score 27 points, including six in Target Score Time alone, as the Winnipeg Sea Bears (2-1) used stout fourth-quarter defence to cruise past the Ottawa BlackJacks (0-3) 93-80 Saturday night at Canada Life Centre.
Allen, who came into Saturday’s contest averaging a league-best 40.5 points per game, saw his scoring average drop to 36 per night, but he had to work for what he got, going 8-of-19 from the floor and without a three-pointer made until he drilled a couple of difficult threes in Target Score Time, finishing 2-for-7 from distance.
Despite the shooting struggles, last season’s CEBL MVP still managed to stuff the boxscore, finishing with six rebounds and six assists to go along with the 27 he dropped.
“I pride myself on making the right read,” said Allen after the game.
“Teddy commands such attention from the defence it’s a situation where he can set players up and create opportunities for his teammates,” Sea Bears head coach Mike Taylor added. “From my standpoint, I’m really pleased with the way Teddy played. I think he did a great job defensively, he rebounded well. Teddy’s more than just a scorer, and when you don’t have your hot shooting game going, you have to find other ways to contribute, and he did that really well tonight.”
The six assists Allen dished out, puts him one shy of reaching 100 for his CEBL career in the regular season.
Allen wouldn’t have got the opportunity to play the hero in Target Score Time for the Sea Bears if he and his teammates didn’t dig in defensively, however.
Winnipeg entered the fourth quarter clinging to a 68-65 lead, but were able to comfortably take things into Target Score Time ahead, 84-76, in the fourth on the strength of their defence.
The Sea Bears held the BlackJacks to just 5-of-13 shooting in the fourth quarter and only 1-for-4 in Target Score Time. Winnipeg did a great job forcing turnovers and drawing charges that included a sequence where Allen and Sea Bears reserve guard Mason Bourcier drew two on back-to-back Ottawa offensive possessions.
“He was doing all the little things without scoring to win,” said Taylor of Bourcier, who ended up finishing the game on the floor. “He really made his teammates better, and that’s why we had him out there.”
Another impact player for Winnipeg was former NBA first-round draft pick Byron Mullens, who enjoyed his best game as a CEBL player since joining the league this season. The 35-year-old finished with 19 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting, doing most of his damage in the second and third quarters, while Allen was still trying to work through his off shooting night.
Winnipeg native Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson also had a strong performance for the Sea Bears, finishing with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and closing out the game with three made free throws, sending the 8,514 – the third most for a CEBL regular-season crowd ever – in attendance at Canada Life Centre very happy.
“We love Sea Bear Nation, they support us so well,” said Taylor. “Tonight, when we weren’t clicking offensively, you could still feel the energy with everyone supporting us. There’s something special happening here in Winnipeg.”
On the flip side, after yet another loss, the BlackJacks find themselves in a tough 0-3 hole to start the season, despite an excellent game from Ibrahim Watson, who finished with 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting, and newcomer Isaih Moore, who put up a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double in just his second-ever CEBL game.
Those positives are cold comfort for Ottawa, however as they continue to navigate the early portions of this season without key starters Deng Adel and Zena Edosomwan, who are currently completing their professional seasons overseas, and also without starting guard Yasiin Joseph, who didn’t play due to injury.
“We’re always evaluating the situation. We know that some of our players have been having success overseas and we’re waiting for them to arrive,” said Ottawa head coach James Derouin. “With the guys that we have, I’m proud with the way that they’re fighting.”
Up Next
Winnipeg will next see the Honey Badgers in Brampton in a battle between a pair of 2-1 teams, while Ottawa will continue their road trip heading to Montreal to face the Alliance in a matchup that will see a couple of winless squads finally pick up a much-needed victory.
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About the CEBL
A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 10 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. Fourteen players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, Next Level Sports & Entertainment and Courtside1891. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.
