MEDFORD, MA - Taking on the #8 ranked team in the country in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team fell to Tufts University, losing to the Jumbos by a score of 83-66 on Friday, Mar. 7th.
Offensively, the Maccabees were captained by Skyline Player of the Year
Zevi Samet, with the junior guard scoring 29 points on 8-25 shooting, including 4-10 from beyond the arc.
On the defensive side of the ball, Yeshiva was helmed by the pair of
Effy Freundlich and
Or Sundjyvsky, with the duo combining for 12 rebounds, six steals and a block on 56 minutes off the bench.
With the result, the Macs close out their season with a record of 18-11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Yeshiva fell behind early, trailing by a score of 10-4 after less than four minutes had ticked off the clock. While the Macs were able to rebound over the next six minutes off play, drawing within four at 14-10, the effort was not enough, as Tuft's lead quickly grew out to double digits at 20-10 with 9:16 remaining.
- The Maccabee deficit only increased throughout the rest of the half, with the men in blue and white headed into the break trailing, 45-25.
- Intent to prove that they belonged in the NCAA Tournament, the Maccabees came into the second half swinging. Buckets from Freundlich, Samet, Roy Itcovichi, Yoav Oselka and Luke Cronin sliced away at the Jumbo advantage, reducing it all the way down to nine points at 58-49 with 8:59 left in regulation.
- Unfortunately, Yeshiva's attack could not maintain that level of production, with the Macs only able to watch as Tufts forced its edge back into the double digits, where it would stay for the rest of the contest. Despite outscoring the Jumbos by a margin of 41-38 in the second half, the Maccabees could not overcome their first-half deficit, ultimately falling, 83-66.
MAC LEADERS
- Points: Samet (29), Freundlich (9), Itcovichi (8)
- Assists: Freundlich (2), Itcovichi (2), Oselka (2), Cronin (2), Sundjyvsky (2)
- Rebounds: Sundjyvsky (8), Itcovichi (6), Zakheim (5)
- Steals: Freundlich (4), Sundjyvsky (2), Samet (2)
- Blocks: Freundlich (1), Samet (1), Edri (1)
