Alliance, OH - Picking up just their second ever ranked win in program history, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team took down The University of Mount Union, defeating the #19 nationally ranked Purple Raiders by a score of 86-81 on Friday, Nov. 8.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees were captained by unquestionable MVP of the contest, Zevi Samet. The Monsey native tallied a monster statline to kick off his third season in the blue and white, knocking down 34 points on 13-21 shooting, including 6-11 from three. Two other Mac players scored in double digits alongside Samet, with Max Zakheim going for 24 and Or Sundjyvsky putting up 11.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, big man Dothan Bardichev came through in the clutch for YU, locking down Mount Union's potent attack with team-leading marks of eight rebounds, three steals and a block.
 
With the win, the Macs are now 1-0 on the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both squads started off strong, trading baskets over the first six minutes of play until the scoreboard read 11-11 with 13:56 remaining. While a Mount Union bucket 30 seconds later would break the deadlock, a deep three from Sundjyvsky would not only seize the advantage back for Yeshiva, but ignite a Maccabee run. Buckets from Zakheim, Samet and Yoav Oselka rained down on the Purple Raider glass, stretching YU's edge out to eight at 23-15.
   
• While Mount Union would go on to erase the gap between the two teams over the next four minutes of play, seizing back the advantage at 27-26, the Macs responded in kind, going on a 12-1 run to take their first their first double-digit lead at 38-28. That margin would hold through the end of the half, with Yeshiva headed into the break up, 42-33.
   
• YU continued to grow their advantage to kick off the second half, with scores from Samet and Luke Cronin pushing the lead out to 11 at 52-41. This edge would last through the next six minutes of play, with the Macs maintaining a 10-point lead with nine minutes left in regulation.
   
• From there however, Mount Union stormed back, proving why they are the #19 team in the nation. Over the next three minutes of play, YU's offense found itself completely stymied, opening up for an 11-0 Purple Raider run that not only erased YU's advantage, but put Mount Union up, 64-63. A Zakheim triple recaptured the lead for Yeshiva, only to see the score tied once again, a pattern that repeated itself just a minute later with a Samet bucket, leveling the two squads at 68-all.
   
• Tired of the constant back and forth, Samet took matters into his own hands. Seven straight points from the junior, from under the basket to the foul line to beyond the arc, tore a gash in Mount Union's defense, securing YU a lead they would never surrender. The Purple Raiders continued to fight, closing within four with 22 seconds left to play, only to see their hopes of a comeback snuffed out by clutch free throws from Zakheim and Sundjyvsky. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 85-81, locking down YU's first win of the season.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Samet (34), Zakheim (24), Sundjyvsky (11)
• Assists: Bardichev (6), Zakheim (3), Sundjyvsky (3), L. Cronin (3)
• Rebounds: Bardichev (8), Zakheim (7), Samet (7)
• Steals: Bardichev (3), Samet (2), Zakheim (1), Sundjyvsky (1), L. Cronin (1)
• Blocks: Bardichev (1)

 
UP NEXT
Closing out their Ohio trip, the Macs will face against The College at Wooster on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1:00 PM.