The Yeshiva University Maccabees have forged their identity in the fires of adversity this season, proving time and again that they can compete with the very best in the nation. This squad has shown remarkable resilience, most notably by pushing then #4 Tufts and #15 Mary Washington to the absolute brink in heart-stopping overtime battles. While those contests against nationally ranked powerhouses ended in narrow defeats, they served as a proving ground, preparing the Macs fo

They remembered this gym. They remembered last year’s semifinal. They remembered how thin the margin was — how nothing ever comes easy against Sarah Lawrence. And on Wednesday night, the Macs walked back into that building and finished the job. In a gritty, seesaw tilt that felt every bit like a postseason rematch, Yeshiva held off the Gryphons 72–64 to stay perfect in Skyline play, improving to 4–0. How it Happened:  - Sarah Lawrence struck first. The Gryphons came out with

The Macs are heading back into familiar territory — and not the comfortable kind. Yeshiva travels to Sarah Lawrence for a showdown with the Gryphons, the reigning Skyline Gold Division champions, on the same floor where the Macs survived an instant classic last season, escaping with a heart-stopping 72–71 win in the Skyline semifinals.  Start with Brady Burman, a steady, physical presence who does a little bit of everything and never lets the game drift out of control. Then t

This was supposed to be easy. On paper, it had all the makings of a comfortable afternoon for the Macs — a Sunday road date against a struggling team in the Skyline conference.  A chance to breathe, experiment, and maybe even coast a little. And early on, that’s exactly how it looked. Coach Elliot Steinmetz mixed and matched lineups from the start, gave bench players real minutes, and allowed the rotation to stretch out. Yeshiva played its B game and still controlled things—m

While the bitter cold has slowed the city’s usual rhythm, it has done nothing to cool the fire burning within the Macs. Winter may have emptied the sidewalks, but inside the gym, the pursuit of back-to-back Skyline Conference championships is very much alive. This year’s group has quickly begun to carve out its own identity, one defined by grit, relentless energy, and an unshakable sense of camaraderie. The effort and intensity displayed night after night bring back memories

Yeshiva fell 72–71 to the Illinois Wesleyan Titans on Monday night, and it’s one the Macs are going to think about for a long time. Four seconds left. Tie game at 70, as the Titans bring the ball up with 5 seconds remaining. Zevi Samet jumped the pass clean, took off the other way, and for a split second, you thought it was over. Instead? Whistle. Kickball. Somehow. Fine. Still alive. Then, Or Sundjyvsky picked off another pass. He attacked the rim, got fouled, and let out so

We all remember the night, No. 1 Yeshiva was stunned at home. We were reminded that, eventually, everyone loses — and that it's always better for that to happen in December than in March. Yet the truth is, all of those beginnings lead to the same place. If you were there — or if you've followed this program closely — you already know why Monday's clash between the Yeshiva University Maccabees and the Illinois Wesleyan Titans still carries weight. December 30, 2021. A packed,

It was one of those cold Saturday nights at the MSAC where the building feels a little bigger, a little quieter, and the game dares you to bring your own energy. For a half, Manhattanville hung around, punched back, and made the Maccabees earn it. In the end, though, good teams on their last ride found their rhythm — and the Macs did, pulling away late for a 79–67 win to keep their conference streak spotless at 2-0. At halftime, this didn’t feel like a blowout brewing. Yeshi

The quest for the Skyline crown is officially underway for the Maccabees, and there was no better way to launch it than with a statement win over Purchase on Tuesday night. The season may not have opened the way they imagined, but, as Elsa wisely reminds us, “the past is in the past.” In their last three contests, the Macs have gone 2-1 and, more importantly, have rediscovered their identity. This is a team fueled by hunger: seniors desperate to cap their careers with a champ

On a night where the Macs desperately needed to reset their season’s momentum, Yeshiva delivered a disciplined, physical, and balanced performance on the road. After a sloppy first half from both sides, the Macs tightened up defensively, cleaned up their halfcourt execution, and rode a dominant second half to a convincing 71–46 win over Purchase. Behind Yoav Oselka’s two-way brilliance and Zevi Samet’s historic 2,000th career point, the Macs showed flashes of the cohesion and

All right Macs Nation, huddle up. There’s good news and bad news. The bad is the Macs walk into Skyline play at 1–6, but the record needs context:  the good news is all seven games were non-conference, and all seven were against teams with top-tier athleticism and votes in the national rankings. In other words: the efficiency numbers look shaky, but the strength of schedule has been top-heavy. Every hit they took was basically prep work for a conference that’s a whole lot mor

Two days after an exhilarating victory over defending NCAA runners-up NYU, Yeshiva University looked to keep the good times rolling Saturday against the University of Saint Joseph at the Max Stern Athletic Center. Instead, the Maccabees struggled to maintain consistent offense, and, at times, seemed unable to generate the “juice” needed to win the game. YU fell 78-64 in a game where offense was hard to come by early, but the USJ Blue Jays stepped up when they needed to and pu

Wednesday felt like the Macs finally exhaled, leaving with their first win of the season in six tries. Tonight? They get the team that’s been sitting on their chest for three years. This matchup has always carried weight, but this season it hits different. It’s the final ride for this core, the last chapter of a group that’s lived every high and low together. If they want this season to mean something, if they want to actually own the moment instead of being owned by the narr

On a night when Macs Nation needed something to believe in after five straight frustrations, the Yeshiva University Maccabees finally delivered a win, rallying to defeat NYU 88-83.  The Max Stern Athletic Center was buzzing   —the kind of noise you can feel in your chest. The Macs were finally back home after stops in Virginia and Boston against the D3 Nation’s Elite. It felt like the entire Yeshiva sports universe came out to welcome them. Magen David Yeshivah sent its whole

Legendary football coach Bill Parcells used to say that “you are what your record says you are.” Often, narratives surround teams with poor records, claiming they underperform due to the absence of key players, bad luck, or a difficult schedule. The Macs believe they are truly better than their 0-5 record indicates and that they are poised to start winning games. I spoke to first-year team manager Kobe Kurtz, and he expressed this sentiment clearly, stating that “the panic le

If you're still processing what happened inside Cousens Gymnasium on Sunday you aren't alone. Up 70–49. Ten minutes to go. The #4 squad in the country on the ropes, with their fans silent, their All-Americans shaking their heads. And then, it was gone.  The same Yeshiva Maccabees who looked flawless for 30 minutes — crisp passes, motion offense humming, energy electric — suddenly couldn't break a press, couldn't secure a rebound, couldn't catch a breath. Tufts hit a three, th

Four games in, and the road has been rugged. The Maccabees have faced a gauntlet that would test anyone’s resolve — #2 Randolph-Macon, #1 Trinity, and now another top-five powerhouse in Tufts. These are the kinds of programs that define the upper echelon of Division III basketball, and Yeshiva is diving headfirst into that challenge. Today’s Jumbos are the same battle-tested group that ended Yeshiva’s season in the NCAA Tournament last March, 83–66. They return nearly everyon

On a night where Max Zakheim made his much anticipated return to the lineup, the Max Stern Athletic Center buzzed with hope. For stretches, Yeshiva showed flashes of cohesion, improved spacing, and the kind of defensive grit this group has been searching for early in the season. But standing across from them was the #1 Trinity CT Bantams, the top team in the country and an offensive machine averaging 100 points per game. The Macs hung tough early and entered halftime down jus

Even with the Macs opening the season 0-3, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Yeshiva went toe-to-toe with both Chapman and #15 Mary Washington, controlling long stretches of each game, before falling by just four and three points, all without their starting point guard and defensive engine, Max Zakheim. With Zakheim returning, the Macs regain their primary facilitator and a much-needed stabilizing presence who can organize the offense and create cleaner looks. The tea

Wow… But not the good “Wow”.  Coming off a harsh loss the night before, the Yeshiva University Maccabees looked to earn a split of their Virginia road trip, which featured a tough back-to-back against two Top 15 opponents.  Instead of a split, Yeshiva suffered a brutal 90-89 Double Overtime defeat to the #15 University of Mary Washington Eagles in Fredericksburg, VA. Despite an extremely strong first half and controlled second, the Macs handed UMW a ticket to overtime, giftin