New York, NY - Wrapping up their final game of the regular season, the Yeshiva University Men's Basketball team welcomed the Mount Saint Mary Knights to the Max Stern Athletic Center. The night was a special celebration of seniors and alumni, with fans filling the gym in support. Despite a hard-fought battle, the team fell short, ending the game with a 78-69 loss on Saturday, Feb. 22nd.

Leading the charge for the Macs was Or Sundjyvsky, who delivered an impressive double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Also reaching double figures were teammates Noam Edri and Luke Cronin, contributing 11 and 10 points respectively.

Defensively, Cronin and Dothan Bardichev locked down the paint for the Maccabees with seven and five rebounds. Jonathan Levy led the team in steals with two, while Sundjyvsky anchored the defense with a team-high two blocks.

Seniors Ezra Sicklick, Effy Freundlich, and Joel Weinstein were all honored for their outstanding careers with the team, each making valuable contributions on and off the court.

With the result, the Macs close out regular season play with a record of 15-10, 12-4 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game opened with the Knights winning the tip-off and quickly draining a three-pointer to take an early lead. The Macs got on the board when Yoav Oselka sank a pair of free throws, cutting the deficit to 5-2 with 18:35 left in the half. However, the Knights maintained their offensive rhythm, capitalizing on Yeshiva's turnovers to extend their lead to 15-4. Determined to keep the Macs in the game, Cronin responded with back-to-back baskets, sparking some momentum. Contributions from Edri and Tom Beza off the bench helped Yeshiva claw back within four points, narrowing the score to 16-12 with 13:30 remaining in the half.
   
• Despite Yeshiva's efforts to regain momentum, the Knights responded with a run of their own, extending their lead to 23-12. The Macs' scoring drought was finally broken when Asher Falk drained a three-pointer off an assist from Sundjyvsky, followed by another three from Sicklick. However, the Knights maintained control, building a 33-20 lead with 6:06 remaining in the half. Falk added a late jump shot, but the Knights closed the half with a commanding 41-26 advantage.
   
• To start the second half, the Macs came out with offensive intensity, fueled by baskets from Roy Itcovichi, Cronin, and Sundjyvsky, cutting the deficit to 51-41 with 15:08 remaining. Both teams traded baskets, and Yeshiva continued to chip away at the lead, closing the gap to just five after a layup from Edri. The Macs maintained their defensive intensity, preventing the Knights from pulling away and keeping the score at 66-61 with 6:06 remaining in the game.
   
• Despite Yeshiva's efforts to keep the game within reach, the Knights' offense proved too strong as they continued to convert their shots. The game closed with a layup by Ari Shklyar off a pass from Falk, but it wasn't enough, as the Knights secured a 78-69 victory.
   

MAC LEADERS

• Points: Sundjyvsky (13), Edri (11), Cronin (10)
• Assists: Edri (3), Bardichev (3), Sundjyvsky (2), Falk (2)
• Rebounds: Sundjyvsky (10), Cronin (7), Bardichev (5)
• Steals: Levy (2), Freundlich (1), Bardichev (1)
• Blocks: Sundjyvsky (2), Beza (1), Oselka (1)
   

UP NEXT
The Macs will remain on their home court for their next matchup, hosting the #6-seeded Purchase College Panthers in the Skyline Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 25th, at 8:00 PM.