MEDFORD, MA - Taking on the team that knocked them out of last year's NCAA Tournament, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team fell to #4 Tufts University, losing to the Jumbos by a score of 100-94 on Sunday, Nov. 23rd.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees were led by Yoav Oselka, with the Israeli guard putting up a career-best 28 points on 12-16 shooting. Three other Macs scored in double digits, with Zevi Samet tallying 22, Dothan Bardichev notching 12, and Max Zakheim dropping 11.
 
On top of his offensive prowess, Oselka also dominated the glass for YU, completing his second double-double of the season with 10 rebounds on the night.
 
With the result, the Macs are now 0-5 on the year.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After both squads went scoreless through the first minute of play, the Maccabees jumped out to an early lead, going up 13-7 behind buckets from Samet and Zakheim. This advantage would grow, reaching double digits eight minutes into the contest at 17-7.
   
• Tufts would rally, shrinking the gap between the two teams back into single digits, and drawing as close as three points at 25-22 with 8:04 remaining. However, the Macs refused to lose their lead, riding Osleka's hot hand and two back-to-back threes from Yair Dovrat over the following six minutes to push their edge all the way up to 14 points at 46-32. This margin would hold into the half, with YU headed into the break up, 48-37.
   
• Yeshiva's lead only grew at the start of the second half, reaching a zenith of 21 points at 64-43 with 13:54 left in regulation. The Macs held firm, maintaining this advantage for another three minutes, but from there the YU offense stalled. Over the final ten minutes of the period, the Maccabees only managed 15 points to Tufts' 36, seeing their lead slashed to just two points with 1:07 on the clock. A Jumbo layup with 22 seconds remaining tied the game at 85-all, and while foul gave Zakheim the chance to reclaim the contest, his free throw with 14 seconds left rattled out, sending the game into overtime.
   
• In the first and only OT period, Tufts immediately took the lead and never looked back. The Maccabees continued to push, with baskets from Samet and Oselka keeping the men in blue and white competitive. However, the effort was not enough, as the Macs ultimately fell in Medford, 100-94.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Oselka (28), Samet (22), Bardichev (12), Zakheim (11)
• Assists: Oselka (7), Samet (5), Bardichev (3)
• Rebounds: Oselka (10), Samet (7), Zakheim (4)
• Steals: Zakheim (3), Oselka (2), Dovrat (2)
• Blocks: Dovrat (1), Itcovichi (1), Bardichev (1)

 
UP NEXT
Not taking the court again until after Thanksgiving, the Macs will host New York University on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd at 8:00 PM.