The Yeshiva University Maccabees return to the Max Stern Athletic Center on Wednesday night looking to rebound from a gut-wrenching 94-91 loss to Sarah Lawrence. Manhattanville, on the other hand, comes in desperate for a win to keep its slim postseason hopes alive. With the Skyline Conference playoffs rapidly approaching, this matchup carries significant implications for both teams.
Yeshiva sits at 14-9 overall and 11-3 in conference play. A win against Sarah Lawrence would have clinched the Gold Division title and secured home-court advantage for the playoffs. Instead, after letting an eight-point lead slip away in the final two minutes courtesy of an 11-0 Gryphons blitz, the Macs no longer control their destiny. They now need to win out and get some help elsewhere to reclaim the top spot.
Manhattanville enters the game at 8-15 overall and 4-10 in the Skyline. With just two games left, the Valiants likely need to win both and hope for favorable results elsewhere to sneak into the playoffs. Every possession will matter for them, and they’ll play with desperation.
The last meeting between these teams on January 21 was a battle. Yeshiva built a 45-30 halftime lead, but Manhattanville stormed back with a 38-23 second-half advantage to force overtime. The Valiants even took their first lead of the night in the extra period, but the Macs responded with a decisive 10-3 run to escape with a 75-70 victory. Max Zakheim led Yeshiva with 22 points, while Zevi Samet added 20, including clutch shots in overtime. Free throws played a crucial role, with the Macs converting 21-of-27 at the line compared to Manhattanville 12-of-16.
The rebounding battle favored Yeshiva, as Yoav Oselka and Luke Cronin controlled the glass. Despite the win, the Macs know how close they came to dropping that game, and Manhattanville will enter the rematch with confidence. The Valiants biggest threat is Andrew Saint-Louis, who has been red-hot with back-to-back 27-point games. He leads the team with 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. John Ranaghan, who scored 20 points in the last meeting, provides additional scoring, while Emmanuel Udeagha and Jack Scanlon bring physicality down low.
Max Zakheim and the Macs host Manhattanville in their penultimate regular season game on Wednesday night. (Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
Can Yeshiva close?:
Yeshiva must prove it can close games better after what happened against Sarah Lawrence. If they have a lead late, execution will be key to preventing another collapse. Manhattanville, fighting for its playoff life, will bring maximum effort and intensity. The Valiants came close to knocking off the Macs once and will be looking for redemption. Free throws played a decisive role in the first meeting, with Yeshiva winning the game at the line. If the Macs attack and draw fouls, they will have a significant advantage.
From Downtown:
The three-point battle could also be crucial, especially since Manhattanville struggled to defend the perimeter in its last game against Purchase, allowing them to shoot 50 percent from downtown. If Yeshiva’s sharpshooters catch fire again, it could be a long night for the Valiants.
Control the Boards:
Rebounding and physicality will be significant factors. Oselka and Cronin dominated the glass in the last meeting, and if they control the boards again, Yeshiva will dictate the tempo.
With playoff positioning on the line, the atmosphere at Max Stern Athletic Center should be electric. Yeshiva must make a statement after Sunday’s loss, and Manhattanville is fighting to extend its season. One way or another, this game will tell us a lot about where the Macs stand heading into the postseason.
How to Watch:
Tip-Off at the Max Stern Athletic Center is slated for 8:00PM. You can watch the game on the MacsLive YouTube channel.