NEW YORK, NY - Taking on their quarterfinal opponent in the first round of the 2025-26 Skyline Playoffs, the #1 seeded Yeshiva Men's Basketball team took down #8 The College at Old Westbury, dominating the Panthers by a score of 91-52 on Wednesday, Feb. 25th.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees saw three players score in double digits. Skyline Player of the Year Zevi Samet knocked down 27 points, while Yoav Oselka and Roy Itcovichi tallied 18 and 15 respectively.
 
Facilitating the onslaught, Max Zakheim demonstrated his precision passing, putting up a team-high nine assists.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, rookie standout Yair Dovrat held down the paint for the Macs, notching five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal on the night.
 
With the result, the Macs improve to 18-8 on the year, and advance to the Skyline Semifinals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game proved close through the first seven minutes, knotting up four times before settling at 12-all. However, intent to prove their status as the #1 seed, the Maccabees proceeded to break away, taking the next five minutes to seize a double-digit lead at 24-13.
   
• YU's advantage continued to balloon. Leaning on knockdown shooting from Oselka, Zakheim, and Itcovichi, the Maccabees stretched their edge all the way out to 19 points, up 36-17 with 3:01 remaining. Despite some Old Westbury resistance, that dominant margin would stick through the end of the half, with the Macs carrying a comfortable 39-21 lead into the break.
   
• Not taking their foot off the gas for even a second, the men in blue and white continued to play shut-out basketball throughout the second half. Yeshiva's lead only grew, surpassing 20 points at 45-23 with 18:16 left, 30 points at 64-34 with 11:07 left, and 40 points at 79-38 with 6:09 left.
   
• The Macs' margin reached a zenith of 43 points with just under two minutes remaining on the clock, as Tom Valdman ticked the scoreboard up to 89-46 with his second consecutive three. Playing in front of over 500 Maccabee faithful, YU gave their fans quite the show, shutting out Old Westbury for a 91-52 win.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Points: Samet (27), Oselka (18), Itcovichi (15)
• Assists: Zakheim (9), Oselka (3), Itcovichi (3)
• Rebounds: Oselka (7), Zakheim (7), Samet (5), Itcovichi (5), Dovrat (5)
• Steals: Zakheim (2), Oselka (2), Dovrat (1), Edri (1), Baynash (1), Schanzer (1)
• Blocks: Dovrat (2)

 
UP NEXT
Advancing to the Skyline Semifinals, the Maccabees are set to host #5 Purchase College, welcoming the Panthers to the MSAC on Friday, Feb. 27th at 12:00 PM.