NEW YORK, NY – The men's basketball team traveled to City College of New York last night, and came up a point short after the first overtime was complete. The loss is the first for the Macs (1-1) and the win was CCNY's first (1-2).
Chen Sina led the Maccabee offense with 11 points, followed closely by Martin Leibovich with 10. Yeshiva shot 55% from the field in the first half, 52% in the second half, but only 14% (1-7) in the overtime period. The Macs were out-rebounded 42-27, but held the edge in steals (8-6), blocks (1-0), and assists (18-16).
Yeshiva held the lead for nearly the entire first half, right until the 3 minute mark where CCNY first tied the game then took the halftime lead. The Macs started with a 5-0 run, and were able to push their lead up to as much as 8 with just under 10 minutes to go, after Alex Claster hit a 3 pointer. Three Beaver free-throws at the end of the half proved to be the difference in the 32-29 halftime score.
The deficit for the Macs grew to 7 just a few minutes into the second half, but a Sina 3-pointer cut it to 4 and put the Macs back on track. They regained the lead with 7:24 to play and held it until the very end. CCNY's tip in from Ben Washington with 35 seconds showing was the field goal that forced overtime. Leibovich's attempt to win with 2 seconds came up just short.
Yeshiva grabbed the early overtime lead, by scoring first, on a David Gilboa field goal. The Beavers got a free throw to cut the lead in half, and then a layup to take the lead by one with 3:20 left. Martin Leibovich hit a pair of free throws to give the Macs the lead again with 2:22 to play, but that would be the last time the Macs were able to score. Ben Washington hit his second big shot of the night, this time the game winner in overtime with 4 second to play. Yeshiva was unable to attempt a field goal in the remaining time.
The men will travel to Ramapo College to take part in the Ramapo Tournament this weekend. Their first game will be at 8PM on Saturday against the host school. Depending on the result, and the result of the first game, the Macs will meet either Berkeley or Wentworth in the Consolation (Sunday at 1PM) or the Championship at 3PM.
