The Yeshiva University men’s basketball team earned a convincing Skyline victory over Maritime College, 104-60, at Riesenberg Gymnasium on Thursday evening. The Maccabees (11-5, 9-2) extend their winning streak to a program-record 10 games. Yeshiva remains in first place in the conference standings, while the Privateers drop to 2-12 in the Skyline (3-16 overall).
The Maccabees shot 74.1 percent from the field during the first 20 minutes of the game and ended up with a 61.8 shooting percentage for the evening. YU converted 59.1 percent of its 3-point attempts. It was another strong performance for the Blue and White’s defense, which held Maritime to 34.6 percent shooting from the field.
“Our commitment on the defensive end is special right now,” Yeshiva University head coach Elliot Steinmetz said. “Proud of our guys for buying in and continuing to improve every day.”
Five players on the Macs reached double-figures in scoring. Freshman guard Ryan Turell and junior guard Simcha Halpert each scored 23 points. The former shot 6-for-6 from the field, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, while grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out a pair of assists and collecting two steals. The latter converted eight out of 11 shot attempts and went 5-for-8 from 3-point range, while bringing down three rebounds, distributing just as many assists and forcing a pair of steals.
Junior forward Daniel Katz had a solid game with 15 points, six rebounds, three dimes and a steal. Classmate Gabriel Leifer added 12 points, brought down seven boards, dished out three assists and blocked a shot. Sophomore guard Eitan Halpert netted 11 points.
Yeshiva never trailed at any point in the game. Katz opened the contest with a 3-point field goal, less than a minute in, and Leifer capped off YU’s opening run with a successful jump shot to put his team up, 9-0. Later in the half, the Macs broke the game open by scoring 16 straight points, capped off by a 3-point field goal from Simcha Halpert, to take a commanding 44-12 advantage with 4:52 remaining until the break. The two teams went into halftime with YU in the lead, 57-20.
The Maccabees outscored the Privateers, 47-40, during the final 20 minutes of the contest. Eitan Halpert converted on a shot from beyond the arc to give YU its largest lead of the evening, 98-45, with 5:10 remaining. Maritime finished the game with a 15-6 run, but it was not enough as Yeshiva earned its ninth Skyline victory of the season, 104-60.
In just the second game of his collegiate career, sophomore forward Caleb Milobsky produced seven points and clutched four rebounds. Junior guard Tyler Hod converted a shot from beyond the arc, while grabbing two rebounds and distributing a pair of assists.
Senior forward Michael Hayon and sophomore guard Sammy Mandel each scored two points, with the former bringing down three boards. Junior forward Kevin Bokor and freshman guard Jeffrey Owen each grabbed four caroms, while sophomore guard Albert Waxman converted a free throw. Senior forward Tal Gweta scored five points and brought down a pair of rebounds.
By Anthony (A.J.) O’Hagan
Anthony (A.J.) O’Hagan is the sports information director at Yeshiva University
