On Sunday, Or Sundjyvsky dropped a monster 32-point, 13-rebound double-double in a win over Purchase. Tuesday, Yoav Oselka took center stage, posting 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead Yeshiva University to a hard-fought 70-61 road victory over Mount Saint Vincentd in Riverdale, NY. The Skyline scoreboard also delivered some much-needed help. Purchase defeated Sarah Lawrence, and SJLI took down Maritime, which means the Macs are now first in the Gold Division at 11-2 and tied with Farmingdale for the No. 1 seed in the conference. They're also a game ahead of Sarah Lawrence, who they travel to face on Sunday in a showdown that will likely decide the division.
This win wasn’t pretty. The Macs were again careless with the ball, turning it over 19 times after coughing it up 18 times in Sunday’s win over Purchase. The bench was outscored 33-15. Yet, they made up for it with transition offense, outscoring the Dolphins 58-44, and sheer dominance on the boards, leading 20-10 in second-chance points.
The last time these two teams met, YU ran Mount Saint Vincent off the floor in a 112-75 blowout. Yet this wasn’t the same Dolphins squad. They’ve tightened things up, playing with more urgency and discipline, creating a brutal battle this time.
How It Happened:
- The game started with both teams trading buckets. For nearly three minutes, neither team could score. YU was down 12-8 before two quick Roy Itcovichi layups tied things up.
- Surprisingly, this turned into a defensive battle, something neither team is known for. It was also a sloppy offensive performance, with missed layups and careless turnovers piling up. However, a massive three from Zevi Samet put YU up 23-19, and a Yoav Oselka layup stretched the lead to 27-19. Despite a buzzer-beating layup from the Dolphins, the Macs took a 29-26 lead into halftime.
- The second half started with Oselka showing why he was the best player on the court. He grabbed three rebounds in a single possession and finally got rewarded with a layup to put YU up 31-26. The Macs then switched to a zone, and Roy Itcovichi came up with a steal—though he missed the layup. No problem. Effy Freundlich grabbed another steal and found Max Zakheim who buried a three to cap off a 12-2 run. Suddenly, it was 41-28 with 14:46 left.
- Oselka continued his dominance inside, and Freundlich added back-to-back layups to push the lead to 52-36 with 9:29 to go. Desperate, Mount Saint Vincent turned to a full-court press, and YU responded in kind. What followed was a war of attrition. Zakheim wasn’t letting this one slip away—his deep three made it 59-43.
-The Dolphins refused to go quietly. Their press started to bother YU, forcing turnovers and cutting the lead to just eight, 60-52, with 3:59 remaining. The Macs didn’t panic. They controlled the tempo, slowed things down, and got an Oselka layup to make it 65-52 with 2:51 left. From there, YU’s Skyline-leading free-throw shooting sealed a 70-61 win.
Or Sundjyvsky and the Macs are back atop the Gold Division with a 70-61 win over Mount Saint Vincent, sweeping the season series. (Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
Yoav Oselka’s Dominance:
The big man was unstoppable, finishing with 22 points and 15 rebounds. He controlled the paint, provided second-chance opportunities, and was a massive presence on defense.
Fast Break and Second-Chance Points:
Despite turnovers and a quiet night from the bench, the Macs crushed the Dolphins in transition (58-44) and on the offensive glass (20-10 in second-chance points). Those extra opportunities were the difference.
Composure Down the Stretch:
When Mount Saint Vincent made its late push, YU didn’t crumble. They dictated the tempo, got key baskets, and hit their free throws when it mattered most.
Up next:
With sole possession of first place in the division (for now), all eyes turn to Sunday’s showdown at Sarah Lawrence. If YU can handle business, they’ll be in the driver’s seat heading into the Skyline Tournament.
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