The Yeshiva University Maccabees went on the road and stood on business, delivering an 87-61 demolition over the last-place Mount Saint Mary Knights in Newburgh, NY on Wednesday night. With the margin of victory set at 14.5, the Macs covered and obliterated expectations, lifting them to .500 on the season at 7-7 and 4-1 in Skyline Conference play.
As for the Knights (1-13, 0-5 Skyline), their 11-game losing streak lives on, and YU made sure it wasn’t going to end on their watch. From the opening tip, Yeshiva controlled every aspect of the game, playing with poise, precision, and purpose. The Knights were left searching for answers, and the visitors submitted a performance that left no doubt.
While Mount Saint Mary may still dream of snapping their skid, YU wanted no part of handing out sweet moments. They came to win and did it in style.
How It Happened:
- The game opened with a strong start for Yeshiva, as Luke Cronin set the tone early with a layup off a slick assist from Max Zakheim to tie it up 2-2.
- Then Zakheim got cooking. He nailed a three to make it 7-2 YU, followed by another smooth jumper to push the lead to 11-4. Zevi Samet joined the party with a deep three of his own, stretching the lead to 14-8, before Zakheim hit yet another three, giving him eight quick points and extending the lead to 17-10.
- The Macs took full advantage of Mount Saint Mary’s struggles on the boards, earning second-chance opportunities that kept the momentum in their favor. Cronin powered his way to another layup, then Samet dished to Zakheim for yet another triple, making it 29-16 and forcing the Knights to call a timeout with 9:25 left in the half.
- Coming out of the timeout, Zakheim picked up right where he left off, draining another shot to bring his total to 13 points. He then turned defense into offense with a coast-to-coast scoop-and-score, converting the and-one for a 36-18 lead. Yeshiva kept rolling, with Cronin adding another layup and Zakheim capping off the run with a finger roll of his own, hitting the 20-point mark and giving Yeshiva a commanding 46-27 advantage.
- However, the Macs struggled with ball management late in the half, rushing shots instead of holding for the final possession. That misstep allowed Mount Saint Mary to hit a buzzer-beater, cutting the lead to 46-33 at the break.
- YU’s defense tightened, forcing turnovers that led to easy points in transition. A pair of deuces from Yoav Oselka and a strong finish inside by Luke Cronin pushed the lead back into the 20/20 hindsight club before a Zevi Samet deep three stretched the lead to 61-37.
-Another Samet fast break three and transition finishes by Jonathan Levy made it 68-37. YU continued to practice their press and were able to force turnovers. Zakheim drilled a trey off of a slick feed from Roy. Then, Luke Cronin's layup capped a 27-4 run for a 73-37 Macs lead. An Asher Falk trifecta sunk the Knights 36 points into their pillows, as the Macs would take the 82-46 advantage and ride the Mactastic wave to an 87-61 victory.
Max Zakheim poured in a game-high 23 points as the Macs coasted to an 87-61 road bludgeoning of Mount Saint Mary on Wednesday, improving to 4-1 in Skyline Conference play. (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
Max Zakheim’s Hot Hand:
Zakheim was the offense's centerpiece, and his incredible start was nothing short of dominant. The “Red Rocket” had 20 points in the first half alone, knocking down four three-pointers quickly and attacking the basket precisely. His ability to score in different ways wholly dismantled Mount Saint Mary’s zone defense. When Zakheim gets in a rhythm, the entire team's energy is boosted.
Dominating the Boards:
Rebounding was a glaring weakness for Mount Saint Mary, and Yeshiva exploited it to the fullest. The Macs were relentless on the offensive glass, turning missed shots into second-chance points. Luke Cronin, in particular, was a beast in the paint, crashing the boards and finishing around the rim as the Macs bullied the Knights 48-32 in the house. The extra possessions extended Yeshiva’s lead and demoralized the Knights, who couldn’t find an answer for the Macs’ physicality under the basket.
Balanced Offense and Ball Movement:
While Zakheim stole the show, this wasn’t a one-person effort. Zevi Samet chipped in with timely threes, and Cronin and Dothan Bardichev provided a steady presence in the post, confidently finishing at the rim. What made Yeshiva’s offense so compelling was how well they moved the ball to find the best possible shot, finishing with 25 assists. Zakheim found Cronin down low and Samet swung the ball to an open shooter, as the Macs played unselfishly. That kind of fluid offense is hard to stop, especially for a team like Mount Saint Mary, which has trouble defending the perimeter and keeping up in transition where they were cooked 22-9.
For Yeshiva: (7-7, 4-1 Skyline)
Max Zakheim led all scorers with a game-high 23 points, including a scorching 20 in the first half.
Luke Cronin (14 points), Zevi Samet (13 points), and Yoav Oselka (12 points) contributed a combined 39 points to the win.
The Macs capitalized on mistakes, boasting a 23-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
For Mount Saint Mary: (1-13, 0-5 Skyline)
The Knights outscored Yeshiva 30-19 in bench points, showing depth despite the loss.
Ryan Graham was the only Mount Saint Mary player in double figures, scoring 12 points with a 35.07% usage rate.
The Knights had passionate fans who brought energy and spirit even as the team struggled.
Up Next:
The Macs return home for a Saturday night version of the show against Saint Joseph’s Long Island (4-10, 3-2 Skyline). Tip-off from the Max Stern Athletic Center is at 8:30 PM.
Comments