IMMACULATA, PA - Competing in their first game of the new year, the Yeshiva men's basketball team took down Immaculata University, defeating the Mighty Macs by a score of 99-92 on Thursday, Jan. 18.
Offensively, the Maccabees enjoyed double-digit scoring performances from all five starters, seeing
Max Zakheim (33) and
Zevi Samet (24) lead the way, while
Dothan Bardichev (18),
Adi Markovich (11) and
Roy Itcovichi (11) proved themselves indispensable to the YU attack.
On top of their impressive point totals, both Zakheim and Bardichev secured double-doubles on the night, snagging 10 and 11 rebounds respectively.
Putting the cherry on top of an already monstrous performance, Zakheim also led the way for Yeshiva on defense with five steals on the night, a mark that tied his career best.
With the win, the Macs are now 10-6 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- While both squads kicked off the game trading baskets through the first two minutes of play, a Samet jumper put the Macs up 8-7 with 17:51 remaining in the half, a lead Yeshiva would never relinquish.
- YU's advantage would grow in the following minutes, cracking double digits at 18-7 off of a fast break Zakheim jumper. While this level of dominance would not last, as YU's lead dipped above and below the double-digit mark throughout the rest of the period, the Macs were able to keep the Mighty Macs at arm's length, never letting Immaculata within more than seven points. By the time the halftime horn sounded, the Maccabees sported a comfortable 42-34 edge over their doppelganger adversaries.
- Starting off the second half much like the first, both teams came out of the locker room swinging, exchanging baskets back and forth over the first eight minutes of the period. However, while YU had managed to maintain their margin up until that point thanks to the offensive prowess of Samet, Zakheim, Itcovichi, Markovich and Bardichev, it was then that their production began to slip.
- Over the following minutes, Immaculata would come inches away from snatching Yeshiva's lead, drawing within three points on multiple occasions, and even two at 77-75 with 5:12 remaining in regulation. Regardless of how close the Mighty Macs came though, the Macs were always able to rely on their sharpshooting to keep them in control, with Itcovichi and Samet nailing a pair of clutch three-pointers to maintain YU's hold on the game.
- Despite Yeshiva leading by seven with under a minute left, Immaculata were not done, nailing two pairs of free throws to get themselves within three at both 46 and 19 seconds left. No strangers to dramatic finishes however, the Maccbees calmly kept their foot on the gas, as Samet responded with four ice-cold foul shots of his own to extinguish any hope the Mighty Macs had at a last-second comeback. Once the final horn sounded, YU led 99-92, securing the victory.
MAC LEADERS
- Points: Zakheim (33), Samet (24), Bardichev (18), Markovich (11), Itcovichi (11)
- Assists: Zakheim (5), Bardichev (5), Markovich (4)
- Rebounds: Bardichev (11), Zakheim (10), Itcovichi (6)
- Steals: Zakheim (5), Markovich (2), Bardichev (1)
- Blocks: Bardichev (1)
UP NEXT
Hosting a game at Max Stern for the first time since December 28th, 2023, the Maccabees are set to welcome Wesleyan University up to Washington Heights on Monday, Jan. 22 at 8:00 PM.
