WEST HARTFORD, CT - Taking on their first opponent of the 2023-24 season, the Yeshiva men's basketball team fell to the University of St. Joseph, losing to the Blue Jays by a score of 83-79 on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees saw three players score in the double digits, as Or Sundjyvsky and Zevi Samet both notched an impressive 27 points, while Max Zakheim tallied 10 of his own.
 
Sundjyvsky also led the way on the defensive end of the ball, teaming up with Yoav Oselka for a combined three blocks and three steals.
 
With the loss, the Macs are 0-1 on the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both squads went blow for blow early on in the first half, seeing three different lead changes by the time the scoreboard read 10-10 with 14:37 left to play. While an 8-0 run over the next two minutes managed to secure the Blue Jays some breathing room, the Macs were quick to respond, relying on the offensive firepower of Oselka, Sundjyvsky and Samet to retake the lead at 22-20.
   
• While St. Joseph would fight back, going as far as to level the playing field at 33-all with just under two minutes left in the half, Yeshiva refused to relinquish their advantage, holding on to carry a 39-33 lead into the break.
   
• Despite a quick three from Samet to open up the second half, growing Yeshiva's lead to nine, it was made clear over the next few minutes that the Blue Jays were not going away anytime soon. Buckets from Samet and Roy Itcovichi fought to maintain the Maccabee advantage, but it proved to be in vain, as a 17-6 St. Joseph run gave the Blue Jays back the lead at 50-48.
   
• Despite this setback, the Macs were not intent on giving up either, clawing their way back into contention thanks in large part to eight straight points from Sundjyvsky, an effort that put Yeshiva back in the driver's seat at 67-66 with 8:04 left in regulation.
   
• This exchanging of leads would continue for the next seven and a half minutes, until both squads found themselves knotted up at 79-all with just 38 seconds remaining.
   
• Despite his heroics earlier on in the half, pivotal blunders from Sundjyvsky in the final moments proved the Macs' downfall, as a missed free throw and subsequent turnover from the first year player resulted in two quick St. Joseph buckets, a margin that Yeshiva simply did not have the time to overcome, ultimately falling, 83-79.

 
MAC LEADERS
Points: Sundjyvsky (27), Samet (27), Zakheim (10)
Assists: Zakheim (3), Samet (2), Bardichev (2)
Rebounds: Sundjyvsky (8), Samet (6), Oselka (5)
Steals: Sundjyvsky (2), Zakheim (1), Bardichev (1), Oselka (1), Itcovichi (1)
Blocks: Oselka (2), Sundjyvsky (1)
 
UP NEXT
Closing out the week on the road, the Macs will travel up to SUNY Oneonta for the Michael A. Freilich Tournament from Saturday, Nov. 11 - Sunday, Nov. 12.