The Yeshiva University Men’s basketball team returned home from Ohio with hopes that the Max Stern Athletic Center crowd could give them the extra ‘spring’ in their step needed to defeat the Springfield Pride. Although it wasn’t pretty, they did just that on Tuesday night, pulling away in the second half for a 78-65 victory. The late-game execution by the Macs was a welcome sight compared to their second-half disaster in Sunday’s 85-64 loss to Wooster. They embraced their friendly confines and returned to cooking in their kitchen.
How It Happened:
- Right before tip-off, the visiting fifth and sixth-grade Magen David Warriors from Brooklyn got to touch the game ball, sit in the front row, and even have a pre-game chat with Coach Elliot Steinmetz—thanks to Macs’ assistant coach Abie Rosow, who coaches the young Warriors.
- Only two minutes in, YU jumped out to a 5-0 lead, forcing Springfield to call a quick timeout. The Macs were rolling. Or Sundjyvsky fought for a layup, Zevi Samet canned a three, and then Dothan Bardichev—after a slick backdoor pass from Or—nailed a trey from the corner. It was an 11-0 Macs run before Springfield finally scored in transition from a turnover 3:42 into regulation.
- Springfield tried a high 2-3 zone, but it didn’t matter: Zevi hit one from 50 feet, getting to the line to put the Macs up 16-2 with 14 minutes left in the first half.
- The Pride started finding gaps, pulling within 19-10 after some YU turnovers.
-The Macs stayed aggressive by virtue of a Samet scoop-and-score and then a Bardichev steal and outlet feed to Zakheim for an easy layup, giving them a 26-12 lead.
- But the visitors didn’t go away, and by halftime, the Macs were up 35-29—but struggling to contain Springfield’s transition game. The turnovers also mounted to a dozen by intermission, and they were dominated on the offensive glass, leading to second-chance points by the Pride.
- The second half started rough for YU, as Springfield tied things up at 42 apiece. That was before Dothan and Zevi hit triples, and Or Sundjyvsky fired from the top of the key, breaking out his signature slingshot celebration to the delight of the Yeshiva faithful, pushing the Macs ahead 57-45.
- Sundjyvsky jumped onto the scene and did not leave: He muscled his way for consecutive layups and drained another three to put the Macs up 68-54 with 5:15 to go. Jackson Cronin connected with Luke for their first brotherly play as Macs, keeping the energy high, earning “Luke” chants from the crowd.
- Springfield couldn’t close the gap, missing free throws in closing time, before Zakheim’s layup and Bardichev’s turnaround jumper iced the game, making it 78-65.
The Macs welcomed back their home fans to the Max Stern Athletic Center with 78-65 win over Springfield in their home opener. (Marvin Azrak/Macslive)
Second Half Execution:
The Macs took charge after a 42-42 tie thanks to smooth ball movement, clutch shooting, and stifling defense. They went 10/24 (42%) from beyond the arc, with Sundjyvsky and Samet knocking down key 3-pointers to shift momentum. The downtown barrage mitigated Yeshiva being outscored 48-28 in the paint and their 18 turnovers. They were opportunistic at the free-throw line, going 12-for-14, while Springfield went 9-23, as Yeshiva never trailed all evening.
Defensive Pressure:
Although they allowed 16 offensive rebounds en route to being outboxed 40-35, YU’s agressive defense put Springfield on their heels, forcing contested shots and holding them to just 2 of 15 from deep. The consistent clamping led to mental mistakes from the Pride, and the Macs pounced, pulling away late for the win.
Shining Stars:
Zevi Samet, Dothan Bardichev, and Or Sundjyvsky stepped up when YU needed them most: Sundjyvsky's energy, big threes, and intelligent passes were enormous, helping YU record 22 assists compared to Springfield’s 12. Their play kept the offense clicking and pushed the Macs through the finish line.
For Yeshiva (2-1):
Dothan Bardichev had 19 points, eight assists, and four rebounds
Max Zakheim poured in 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists
Zevi Samet finished with 15 points, seven rebounds
Or Sundjyvsky had 15 pts
For Springfield (0-2):
Josiah Evlet had 20 points
Curtis Blische added 13 points
Xoren Livingston finished with 12 points
Up Next:
The Macs will host Oglethorpe on Sunday at 1 PM, looking to improve to 3-1 on the young season.
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