Michael Hughes II Dominates the Boards as Montreal Alliance Cruise Past Saskatoon Mamba
Michael Hughes II Dominates the Boards as Montreal Alliance Cruise Past Saskatoon Mamba Photo Credit: alliancemontreal
The CEBL on May 19, 2026, dismantling the Saskatoon Mamba 93-80 with a complete team effort. While several players contributed offensively, it was Michael Hughes‘s dominance on the glass that gave Montreal a structural edge throughout the contest.
Hughes: Maximum Impact in Minimal Time
What makes Hughes II’s performance particularly striking is the efficiency factor. In just 23 minutes and 24 seconds of action, the big man posted 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists — a well-rounded double-double that would have been impressive in 35-plus minutes, let alone under 24. His ability to control the boards gave Montreal consistent second-chance opportunities while limiting Saskatoon’s offensive possessions.
Montreal Alliance 93 - 80 Saskatoon Mamba · CEBL · 19/05/2026Game PTS REB AST Montreal Alliance Kevin Osawe 4 5 1 Jalin Anderson 10 0 1 Michael Hughes 18 13 5 Quincy Guerrier 13 6 3 Ben Stevens 0 4 2 Guillaume Payen-Boucard 0 0 0 Nate Tshimanga 0 0 0 Lue Williams 19 7 4 Javon Freeman-Liberty 18 6 7 Trent Johnson 11 6 0 Saskatoon Mamba Trey Townsend 3 2 1 Jaylin Williams 2 2 0 DaJuan Gordon 16 7 1 Karim Mane 8 6 2 Tavian Dunn-Martin 27 3 4 Mohamed Mahadhi 2 0 0 Markus Harding 4 1 0 Jamir Chaplin 5 5 1 Jamal Fuller 7 4 2 Easton Thimm 6 4 2
That rebounding edge proved critical. The Mamba had a genuine offensive weapon in Tavian Dunn-Martin, who led all scorers with 27 points in 26 minutes and 54 seconds, but the Saskatoon star received limited support from his teammates. DaJuan Gordon added 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Karim Mane and Jamal Fuller combined for just 15 points. Without a collective effort to match Montreal‘s intensity on the glass, Saskatoon could never sustain the momentum needed to close the gap.
Michael Hughes was everywhere tonight 💪
A complete performance in Montreal’s win over Saskatoon
📺 Watch highlights and more on CBC Gem, https://t.co/AX1lPCnf8J, YouTube and CEBL+ pic.twitter.com/hdVD4lGTus
— CEBL (@CEBLeague) May 20, 2026
A Balanced Alliance Proves Too Much for Saskatoon
Montreal’s victory was built on collective strength rather than individual brilliance alone. Lue Williams led the Alliance in scoring with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 32 minutes. Javon Freeman-Liberty delivered a particularly complete outing with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Quincy Guerrier added 13 points and 6 rebounds. Trent Johnson rounded out a deep rotation with 11 points and 6 rebounds.
That kind of balanced production — five players in double figures or near it, all contributing on the boards as well — made Montreal extremely difficult to guard and even harder to outrun. The Alliance never allowed Saskatoon to build momentum off Dunn-Martin’s individual brilliance, consistently answering with multiple contributors rather than relying on one star to shoulder the load.
The 13-point final margin tells a clean story: Montreal was simply the more complete team on the night. Hughes II’s double-double in limited minutes encapsulates what made the Alliance so effective — depth, efficiency, and an unrelenting commitment to rebounding that Saskatoon had no answer for.
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