(Annandale-on-Hudson, NY) – Junior Martin Leibovich (Buenos Aires, Argentina/ORT II) notched his fourth double-double of the 2008-09 season with 20 points and 15 rebounds to go with five assists, and freshman Chen Biron (Kfar Saba, Israel/Katzanelson) scored 17 points during a terrific effort, but the Yeshiva University Men's Basketball team ended the 2008-09 season with a 75-70 loss to Bard College on Sunday, Feb. 22 at Bard. With the loss, Yeshiva closes the season with a 7-17 overall record and 5-13 in Skyline Conference play.

Bard stormed out of the gate quickly, leading by as many as nine points during the first half before a late Yeshiva rally allowed the Maccabees to be within four points, 33-29 at halftime.

Yeshiva ultimately held the lead four times during the second half, but never by more than three points as the Maccabees failed to put a pesky Raptor squad away. Two Leibovich free throws with 50 seconds remaining in the game gave Yeshiva a 70-69 lead, but Bard responded immediately with a three-pointer to make it 72-70. The Maccabees then missed their final three shots and Bard converted three out of four free throws during the final seconds to secure the win.

Leibovch and Biron were terrific, and sophomore Simon Brookim (Brentwood, CA/Valley Torah) added 12 points and five rebounds. Also for Yeshiva, junior Jeremy Pressman (Bala Cynwd, PA/Stern Hebrew) added nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Overall, Yeshiva shot 53% compared to Bard's 46% and the Maccabees owned a commanding 38-25 rebounding edge, but Yeshiva committed 18 turnovers - compared to Bard's five - and Bard went 14 for 21 from the free throw line, while Yeshiva was 8 for 13.

Off of a rebuilding year, the Maccabees will graduate three members of this year's team and looks forward to a 2009-2010 season when much of the team's scoring returns.