Riverdale, NY - In their penultimate road game of the 2024-2025 season, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team traveled to Riverdale to play against another conference foe. Coming out on top, the Macs defeated the University of Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins by a score of 70-61 on Tuesday, February 11th.

Number 55, Yoav Oselka, made a dominant impact on both ends of the court, delivering new personal bests of 22 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks.

Adding to the offensive effort, teammates Max Zakheim and Or Sundjyvsky also scored in double figures, finishing with 20 and 11 points respectively.

On top of their attacking prowess, both Zakheim and Sundjyvsky also contributed on the defensive side of the ball, grabbing six and five rebounds, respectively. Effy Freundlich also made his presence felt, tallying three steals on the night.

With the win, the Macs improve to 14-8, 11-2, in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game opened with a quick layup by Oselka off a crisp pass from Luke Cronin, but the Dolphins quickly answered with a three-pointer. Both teams traded baskets in the early minutes, with contributions from Zakheim, Oselka, and Zevi Samet keeping the Maccabees in stride. With 13:17 remaining in the first half, the score was locked at 8-all.
   
• Both teams battled back and forth, remaining deadlocked at 12, 14, and eventually 19 with 4:36 left in the first half. A free throw from Oselka finally broke the tie, giving the Maccabees the momentum they needed to close out the half strong. Additional baskets from Oselka and Samet helped Yeshiva secure a 29-26 lead heading into the break.
   
• Much like the opening play, Oselka wasted no time adding to the Maccabees' score as the second half began. Looking to extend their lead, Yeshiva remained aggressive on offense, with Zakheim driving to the basket, drawing a foul, and converting the and-one opportunity to complete the three-point play. With 17:45 remaining in the game, Yeshiva held a 34-26 edge.
   
• Continuing to build their advantage, the Maccabees saw Sundjyvsky score a quick layup off a pass from teammate Tom Beza, followed by another layup from Zakheim off a feed from Freundlich. Freundlich capitalized on the momentum, securing his third steal of the night and taking it coast to coast for a layup, extending Yeshiva's lead to 50-34 with just under 12 minutes remaining.
   
• Yeshiva continued to surge, with strong minutes off the bench from Yoel Kintzer and Tom Beza, but the Dolphins remained resilient, applying constant pressure on the Maccabees. However, with 6:45 remaining, a three-pointer from Zakheim extended Yeshiva's lead to its largest margin of the night at 59-43, forcing the Dolphins to call a timeout in an effort to regroup. The Dolphins were unable to mount a comeback, allowing Yeshiva to secure its 11th conference win of the season with a 70-61 victory.
   

MAC LEADERS

• Points: Oselka (22), Zakheim (20), Sundjyvsky (11)
• Assists: Oselka (4), Freundlich (4), Beza (2)
• Rebounds: Oselka (15), Zakheim (6), Sundjyvsky (5)
• Steals: Freundlick (3), Zakheim (2)
• Blocks: Oselka (3), Cronin (1)
   

UP NEXT
Closing out their regular season road schedule, the Maccabees will travel to face the Sarah Lawrence College Gryphons on Sunday, Feb. 16th at 12:00 PM.