BRONXVILLE, NY - Keeping their unbeaten conference record alive, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team took down Sarah Lawrence College, defeating the Gryphons by a score of 72-64 on Wednesday, Jan. 7th.
 
The Maccabees saw four players score in double digits. Both Zevi Samet and Yoav Oselka cracked the 20-point barrier with 22 and 21 respectively, while Roy Itcovichi put up 18 and Yair Dovrat tallied 10.
 
On top of his stellar offensive output, Oselka also dominated the defensive side of the ball, completing the second half of a double-double with 10 rebounds on the night.
 
With the win, the Macs improve to 5-7, 4-0 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sarah Lawrence jumped out to an early lead, up by as many as seven points five minutes into the first half. However, a Yeshiva team forged in adversity knew exactly how to respond to an early deficit. The Macs methodically marched their way back, closing the gap with shots from Itcovichi and Samet, before a Samet jumper with just over nine minutes left gave YU their first lead of the contest, 22-21.
   
• The advantage would not remain in Yeshiva's hands, changing over twice more before Sarah Lawrence reclaimed it for good at 28-27 with 4:28 remaining. However, a stout Maccabee defense did not allow the Gryphons to secure much breathing room, going into the break down by just five at 38-33.
   
• The Maccabees quickly erased their deficit to start the second half, seizing a 41-40 lead less than 3 minutes in. Yeshiva's edge held through the next five minutes of play, until the Gryphons managed to claw their way back and level the contest at 51-51. Both teams remained deadlocked over the following seven minutes, seeing the game tied three more times at 56-all, 58-all, and 59-all.
   
• However, catalyzed by a Samet free throw, the Macs finally broke away. A 9-1 run gave the men in blue and white a seven-point buffer at 68-61, putting them in a commanding position with just 34 ticks left on the clock. While the Gryphons managed to rattle in a three to cut the margin to four, the effort was not enough to overcome YU's hold on the game, with the Maccabees closing out their conference foe, 72-64.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Samet (22), Oselka (21), Itcovichi (18), Dovrat (10)
• Assists: Dovrat (8), Samet (2), Sundjyvsky (2), Itcovichi (2)
• Rebounds: Oselka (10), Itcovichi (5), Zakheim (5)
• Steals: Zakheim (2), Bardichev (2), Itcovichi (1), Dovrat (1)
• Blocks: Zakheim (1), Samet (1), Sundjyvsky (1)

 
UP NEXT
Returning home, the Macs will host Mount Saint Mary College on Saturday, Jan. 10th at 8:30 PM.