(New York, NY) – Sophomore Simon Brookim (Brentwood, CA/Valley Torah) notched his second consecutive double-double, scoring 16 points and adding 10 rebounds - including a 4 for 7 effort from three-point range - and junior Martin Leibovich (Buenos Aires, Argentina/ORT II) scored a team-high 17 points, but the Yeshiva University Men's Basketball team fell 58-46 to Purchase College on Tuesday night at the Max Stern Athletics Center. With the loss, Yeshiva is now 6-9 overall and 4-7 in Skyline Conference play.
Nearly two months after being dominated by Purchase during a 79-55 loss and fighting for their post-season lives, Yeshiva - despite playing without two starters and three of their top-six players - turned in an incredible first-half performance, particularly on the defensive end. After falling behind 7-0 and trailing by as much as 18-8 with 7:11 remaining in the first half, Yeshiva went on a 12-2 run to close the half and tie the score at 20. Consecutive three-pointers by Daniel Somech (Jerusalem, Israel/Masorti Jerusalem) and Brookim started the rally, and a spectacular play by steadily improving junior Yechiel Boussi (Fairlawn, NJ/Frisch) to close the half allowed the Maccabees to tie the score. Click here to see Boussi's incredible play to end the first half!
A Benjamin Lockspeiser (Highland Park, NJ/MAYHS) three-pointer with 11:44 remaining in the game brought Yeshiva to within 35-33, but from there the game belonged to Purchase. A 7-2 Panther run gave the visitors a 42-35 lead with 8:22 to play, and two additional brief runs by Purchase gave the Panthers the double-digit win.
Much of the big second half for Purchase was in the form of shooting as the Panthers shot 78% from the floor (14 for 18) during the stretch, and 55% for the game. Yeshiva shot 35% from the floor during the game, including a 7 for 31 effort from three-point range. The Maccabees were also outrebounded 37-36.
Yeshiva returns to action a game behind both Old Westbury and Purchase College for the final Skyline Conference playoff bid. They return to action on Saturday, Jan. 31 when they host St. Joseph's (LI) for an 8:30 p.m. Skyline Conference game. This will be Yeshiva's final home game before a five-game road trip.
For video highlights of the Yeshiva-Purchase College game, please click here.
