AMHERST, MA - Taking on their sixth non-conference opponent of the season, the Yeshiva men's basketball team were downed by Amherst College, losing to the Mammoths by a score of 92-80 on Sunday, Dec. 3.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees saw three double-digit performances, with Zevi Samet leading the way with 26, while Or Sundjyvsky and Max Zakheim put up 17 and 14 respectively.
 
On top of his impressive offensive output, Sundjyvsky also captained Yeshiva's defensive effort, notching four steals and a block on the day.
 
With the result, the Macs are now 6-4 on the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Despite a triple from Adi Markovich getting the Macs on the board early, Amherst jumped out to a fast lead, leaving Yeshiva in a 16-3 hole through the first five minutes of the half.
   
• Not allowing this early setback to define them, the Maccabees fought back, embarking on a 16-4 run over the following four and a half minutes thanks to points from Samet, Sundjyvsky, Dothan Bardichev and Roy Itcovichi. This effort drew the Macs within one point of their opposition, seeing the scoreboard read 20-19.
   
• Coming close but failing to seize the advantage for themselves, Yeshiva saw their momentum dissipate over the next ten minutes of play, watching as Amherst regained a comfortable lead, and went into the half trailing, 45-35.
   
• Rejuvenated by their 15-minute rest, both squads opened the second half with a flurry of baskets, trading blows back and forth but leaving the margin unchanged, with the scoreboard reading 61-51 with 14:10 left in regulation.
   
• This pattern of trading points would continue throughout the remainder of the period, as while a quick Mammoth run widened Yeshiva's deficit out to 20 with 7:45 remaining, the Macs stormed right back, relying on buckets from Sundjyvsky, Itcovichi, Samet and Markovich to draw within five at 78-73.
   
• A huge Samet triple just seconds later would not only erase an Amherst layup but also further shrink Yeshiva's deficit to four, yet the effort proved for nought. A gassed Maccabee squad finally ran out of steam, and could only watch as the Mammoths embarked on a 12-4 run over the final two minutes of play, as YU ultimately left Massachusetts with a 92-80 loss.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Samet (26), Sundjyvsky (17), Zakheim (14)
• Assists: Zakheim (3), Bardichev (3), Samet (2), Markovich (2)
• Rebounds: Landau (5), Bardichev (5), Samet (4)
• Steals: Sundjyvsky (4), Samet (2), Zakheim (2)
• Blocks: Sundjyvsky (1), Freundlich (1)

 
UP NEXT
Returning to conference play for their second of three consecutive road games, the Macs will face off against Manhattanville College on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 8:00 PM.