The Yeshiva men's basketball team kicked off their home portion of January at the Max Stern Athletic Center, facing off against Wesleyan University and were thumped by the Cardinals 90-56 on Monday.
Dothan Bardichev led the Maccabees with 15 points, showcasing a solid performance by the Israel native. Team captain Adi Markovich contributed with four assists, and Bardichev shone on the defensive end with a powerful block. Effy Freundlich, Ben Haber, Jacob Rodin, and Ari Shklyar also added steals.
The Macs endured a humbling experience on Monday, losing 90-56 at home to Wesleyan. (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/Macs Live)
How it happened:
- The game started with both teams trading baskets, keeping it close for the first 10 minutes. Players like Roy Itcovichi, Max Zakheim, Gabriel Landau, Effy Freundlich, Adi Markovich, and Dothan Bardichev combined efforts for a 16-all draw with 13:21 remaining.
- Yeshiva's offense stayed strong in the next five minutes, trailing by only three at 27-24 with 8:51 on the clock.
- Unfortunately, Wesleyan pulled ahead, going on a 21-7 run to close out the first half. It was a tough stretch for the Maccabees.
- Coach Elliot Steinmetz seized the opportunity to give valuable playing time to bench players in the second half. This experience is expected to pay off in the team's favor during upcoming conference play.
- The final 20 minutes saw Yeshiva securing 25 points. Players like Tom Beza scored his first point of the season, and Hillel Baynash played a career-high 10 minutes.
- When the final horn sounded, the scoreboard favored Wesleyan with a 90-56 win. Despite the loss, the game provided crucial learning moments for the Macs.
An Utter Demolition:
The Macs faced a tough challenge on the boards, getting outrebounded 43-24, and Wesleyan dominated in the paint with a staggering 60-26 advantage. Wesleyan's 3-22 shooting from beyond the arc and 15-20 from the charity stripe meant they scored 66 points on the move. The Macs only shot 6-24 from their bread and butter downtown station.
Star Players Struggle to Shine:
Amidst Yeshiva's blowout defeat, the star players didn't quite bring their A-game. Zevi Samet hit a career low with just two points, Roy Itovich managed four, and Effy Freundlich contributed with six. That’s not good enough; more urgency will be needed going forward.
A Decade's Darkest Day:
The defeat marked the worst loss at the MSAC in a decade. Losing is tough, but when it's a historic low on your floor, it stings even more. The Macs are undoubtedly feeling the weight of this one and will hope to bounce back later this week.
For Wesleyan:
-Jackson Cormier led the way with 21 points for the Cardinals.
- Shane Regan had 16 points, including going 6-13 from mid-range.
- Even the Wesleyan bench had a memorable outing, as they got 30 points from their reverses.
For Yeshiva:
Leading Yeshiva in points were Dothan Bardichev (15), Adi Markovich (8), and Effy Freundlich (6)
Up Next:
Looking ahead, the Macs dive back into their conference schedule, hosting Purchase College at Max Stern on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 8:00 PM.
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