Box Score

KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team suffered a heart-breaking Skyline Conference loss to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 61-56, at Liebertz Gym on Monday evening. With the loss, Yeshiva snaps its five-game winning streak and undefeated record in Skyline play.

Yeshiva (6-4, 4-1 Skyline) had an 18-point lead in the early stages of the second half, but USMMA (3-7, 1-2 Skyline) scored 20 unanswered points in a span of 7:58, to take a 40-38 lead.

A three-point field goal by sophomore guard Judah Cohen, followed by a pair of free throws by freshman forward Daniel Katz, ended the home team's run and gave the Maccabees a 43-40 advantage with 6:40 remaining in regulation time.

Later in the half, with the game deadlocked at 46, Hunter Jones converted a layup to put the Mariners up for good, 48-46, with 3:14 left to play. USMMA slowly build the lead over the remaining few minutes and would eventually win the game, 61-56. The home team successfully converted eight free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win.

In the beginning of the game, Yeshiva got off to a strong start as a three-point field goal by Cohen put the Maccabees up, 10-4. Halfway through the first stanza, senior guard Jordan Hod launched a shot from beyond the arc to extend YU's lead to 19-8. On the next offensive possession, sophomore forward Tal Gweta laid the ball up and in to put Yeshiva up by a score of 21-10, with 9:26 left. Less than a minute later, Gweta nailed a three-point field goal to increase Yeshiva's advantage to 24-12.

Hod's three-point field goal gave Yeshiva its largest lead of the half, 27-14, with 5:57 remaining. The Mariners scored four unanswered points to close out the first half, as the Macs led 27-18 at the intermission.

In the second half, Cohen drilled back-to-back three-point field goals to give Yeshiva its largest lead of the evening, 38-20, with 16:23 left in regulation. From that point on, the Mariners outscored the Maccabees 41-18, including 20 unanswered points, to hand Yeshiva its first conference loss.

For the contest, Cohen tied a game-high 18 points, grabbed four rebounds, and forced a steal. All of his points came from beyond the arc. Hod successfully drilled three shots from downtown for a total of nine points, while senior forward Michael Berg added eight points, a game-high nine assists, eight rebounds, three blocks, and a steal. Katz brought down eight boards to go along with two points, while sophomore guard Justin Hod and Gweta each produced eight points. Senior forward Dean Pienica scored three points and grabbed just as many rebounds. Sophomore forward Michael Hayon grabbed two rebounds, while senior forward Eli Mamann brought down one.

The Maccabees will travel to the Bronx on Wednesday, for a non-conference contest at Lehman College, beginning at 8:00 p.m.