BROOKLYN, NY - Proving adept at functioning in high-stress, overtime environments, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team downed St. Joseph's University Brooklyn, defeating the Bears by a score of 92-85.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees were shouldered by yet another stupendous performance from Zevi Samet, with the phenom guard tallying a season-high 36 points on 12-22 shooting, including 10-18 from beyond the arc.
 
Also scoring in double digits, Yoav Oselka put up a new personal-best 22 points, while reigning Skyline Player of the Week Max Zakheim tallied 17, and Roy Itcovichi notched 12.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Oselka teamed up with fellow big-man Luke Cronin to lock down the paint, with Oselka pulling down nine rebounds, swatting two blocks and snatching three steals, while Cronin knocked down a career-high three blocks alongside four rebounds.
 
With the win, the Macs improve to 9-7, 6-1 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Maccabees jumped out to an early lead, putting up 10 points in the first three and a half minutes before the Bears had a chance to respond. While SJBK narrowed that gap, scoring 10 points of their own over the next two minutes to draw within two at 12-10, shots from Zakheim, Samet, Oselka and Roy Itcovichi quickly reestablished the Macs' hold on the contest at 22-12 with 13:32 remaining.
   
• Despite YU's double-digit margin, the Bears continued to press, taking the following five minutes to close within one point of Yeshiva at 26-25. However, practiced in keeping uppity squads at bay, the Maccabees responded in kind, rocketing their lead back out past 10 points, all the way to 18 at 52-34 to close out the half.
   
• Yeshiva's double-digit advantage persisted through the first six minutes of the second half, leading 58-46 with 13:49 remaining in regulation. However, as YU's offense faltered, their edge began to erode, seeing it slashed into over the next three minutes until the score stood tied at 58-58.
   
• SJBK's next shot would give the Bears their first lead of the game at 59-58. The advantage would change hands five times over the next three minutes, with Yeshiva finally able to lock down the lead again at 66-65 with 6:01 remaining. YU's edge would last until the final second of regulation, when, leading by two, Cronin blocked SJBK's final layup, only from Samet to foul the shooter on the rebound attempt. Two successful foul shots knotted the contest up at 81-all, sending the game into overtime.
   
• Making up for his foul to end regulation, Samet dominated the overtime period, scoring all 11 of Yeshiva's points with three daggers from beyond the arc. SJBK simply could not match the Monsey native's offensive output, managing only four points. The Bears could only watch as the victorious Maccabees walked out of their gym with a 92-85 win.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Samet (36), Oselka (22), Zakheim (17), Itcovichi (12)
• Assists: Zakheim (4), Itcovichi (4), Oselka (2), Cronin (2)
• Rebounds: Oselka (9), Samet (7), Zakheim (6), Itcovichi (6)
• Steals: Oselka (2), Samet (2), Zakheim (2)
• Blocks: Cronin (3), Oselka (2), Freundlich (2)

 
UP NEXT
Returning home for another post-Shabbos game, the Maccabees will host The College at Old Westbury on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 8:30 PM.