NEW YORK, NY - Rounding out their 2024 slate, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team fell to #16 Wesleyan University, losing to the Cardinals by a score of 72-55.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees saw three players score in double digits, with Roy Itcovichi (14), Max Zakheim (12) and Yoav Oselka (10) all leading the YU attack.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Luke Cronin and Dothan Bardichev proved forces in the paint, each pulling down a team-leading four rebounds.
 
Tom Beza had a career night in white and blue, with the junior guard putting up personal best marks of three points, three rebounds and three assists over ten minutes played.
 
Asher Falk saw his first ever action in white and blue versus the Cardinals, as the Maryland native took the court for ten minutes, putting up two points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal.
 
With the result, the Macs are now 4-5 on the year.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Despite a bucket from Zevi Samet in the opening seconds kicking off scoring, the Maccabee offense struggled to put up points early. It was not until the clock read 7:57 remaining in the half that Yeshiva managed to break double digits, at which point Wesleyan had taken a comfortable lead at 29-12.
   
• The Macs continued to fight, stretching their point total past 20 thanks to the scoring of Itcovichi, Samet, Oselka and Zakheim. However, Wesleyan's lead only increased, with YU going into the break trailing, 44-24.
   
• The Maccabees kept pace with the Cardinals throughout the second half, with the Macs' second unit stepping up in a big way. Previously unsung members of the squad came through for Yeshiva, with Beza, Effy Freundlich and recently-elevated Falk contributing a collective seven points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal off the bench.
   
• However, despite outscoring Wesleyan by a margin of 31-28 throughout the period, the Maccabees could not catch their nationally ranked opponent, ultimately falling, 72-55.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Itcovichi (14), Zakheim (12), Oselka (10)
• Assists: Zakheim (3), Beza (3), Samet (2), Bardichev (2)
• Rebounds: Bardichev (4), Cronin (3), Beza (3), Itcovichi (3)
• Steals: Kintzer (2), Sundjyvsky (2), Itcovichi (1), Samet (1), Falk (1)
• Blocks: Cronin (1)

 
UP NEXT
Rounding out their non-conference schedule with another nationally ranked foe, the Maccabees will host #10 Tufts University on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.