RIVERDALE, NY - Taking the court for the first time in the new year, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team downed the University of Mount Saint Vincent, beating the Dolphins by a score of 80-74 on Sunday, Jan. 4th.
 
The Maccabee offense was led by a trio of scorers, with Zevi Samet, Yair Dovrat, and Yoav Oselka all putting up double digits. Samet led the way with 19, while Dovrat and Oselka dropped 16 and 13 respectively.
 
Both Samet and Oselka also had stellar days on the defensive side of the ball. Samet led the squad with six steals, while Oselka came just one rebound short of a double-double at nine, also tacking on two steals and a block of his own in the process.
 
With the result, the Macs are now 4-7, 3-0 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The score remained close through the first few possessions, with UMSV taking a 4-3 lead on a jumper just under two minutes nto the contest. However, just 14 seconds later, Max Zakheim nailed a three to put Yeshiva up 6-4, an advantage the Maccabees would never cede back to their conference foe.
   
• Yeshiva's lead remained steady throughout the majority of the period, peaking at nine points at 24-15 with 9:11 remaining. The shooting of Dovrat, Oselka, Samet, and Or Sundjyvsky kept the potent UMSV offense at bay, not allowing the Dolphins to come closer than three points through the final 10 minutes of the period. The Macs ended the half with a five-point run, heading into the break up 43-33 thanks to a triple and a pair of free throws from Dovrat.
   
• Yeshiva's lead would balloon through the first ten minutes of the second half, reaching as many as 15 points at 48-33. However, despite YU's edge sitting at a comfortable 13 points with just over five minutes left in regulation, UMSV fought back.
   
• Slashing into the Macs' advantage with a 17-6 run, the Dolphins shrank the margin between the two squads down to just two points at 76-74 with 26 seconds left, leaving the Maccabees little margin for error. Used to high pressure situations though, thanks in part to their grueling non-conference schedule, the Macs kept a cool head. A pair of free throws each from both Zakheim and Dovrat sealed the game, sending Yeshiva home with another Skyline win, 80-74.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Samet (19), Dovrat (16), Oselka (13)
• Assists: Sundjyvsky (5), Dovrat (3), Oselka (3)
• Rebounds: Oselka (9), Zakheim (8), Sundjyvsky (6)
• Steals: Samet (6), Oselka (2), Zakheim (1), Dovrat (1), Itcovichi (1), Schanzer (1)
• Blocks: Dovrat (2), Oselka (1), Itcovichi (1)

 
UP NEXT
Staying on the road, the Macs will travel to Sarah Lawrence College on Wednesday, Jan. 7th at 6:00 PM.