Gameday Preview: Mount Saint Mary @Yeshiva

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 for the gritty, physical trenches of the Skyline Conference, where they have successfully ground out close wins against rivals like Mount Saint Vincent and Sarah Lawrence.

Now, the battle-hardened Macs face a different kind of challenge: the "silent" game. With the university currently on winter break, the Max Stern Athletic Center is expected to be quieter than usual. In the absence of a roaring student section, the players must generate their own energy. To protect their unblemished conference record, the Macs must double down on their foundational pillars of discipline, relentless effort, and mental toughness.

Saturday night, the Maccabees (5-7 overall, 4-0 Skyline) return to their home court to host the Mount Saint Mary Knights (2-10 overall, 0-3 Skyline). While the records suggest a mismatch, Yeshiva knows that complacency is the enemy of consistency. They look to not only extend their unbeaten run in league play but to emphatically reaffirm their supremacy atop the Skyline standings.

The Maccabees have become comfortable in the discomfort of close games. Their latest test was a gritty road win at Sarah Lawrence, a seesaw affair featuring nine lead changes and six ties that demanded every ounce of the team's energy and emotion. But while the "W" in the standings is secure, the box score tells a more complex story about a team still searching for its peak offensive rhythm.

During Sunday’s win over Sarah Lawrence, the team’s offensive depth was tested. The win was manufactured almost entirely by four players, who combined to shoot a blistering 54%. The rest of the team, however, went 0-for-11 from the field. To sustain this momentum, the Macs will need to cultivate more balanced contributions, ensuring that their success isn't solely dependent on a handful of hot hands.

One spark could come from senior guard Max Zakheim. A proven veteran who has overcome adversity before, Zakheim is currently navigating the reintegration process after missing early action. While his recent stat lines reflect a player unselfishly finding his footing rather than forcing shots, the foundation is there for a major turnaround. The Macs know what they have in Zakheim, a dynamic scorer capable of carrying an offense, and his journey back to that high-volume identity will be a key storyline to watch as the team looks to peak at the perfect time.

Max Zakheim and the Macs look for their third straight win when they battle Mount Saint Mary on Saturday night. (Yeshiva Athletics)

Mount Saint Mary, meanwhile, arrives in Washington Heights attempting to recover from a stinging double-digit setback against Mount Saint Vincent. After kicking off the campaign with a promising 2-1 start, the Knights have since entered a freefall, dropping nine consecutive games. Now sitting at 2-10, they are desperate to arrest the slide and force their way back into the win column this Saturday night. While the losing streak has undoubtedly tested the team's resolve, the urgency to salvage their season makes them a dangerous, cornered opponent. In their most recent outing, the Knights were anchored by senior guard Matthew Walsh, who battled for 30 minutes to finish with 12 points, two rebounds, and an assist. The heavy lifting was shared by his backcourt cohorts, fellow seniors Justin Rivera and Brenden Graham, who were the only other starters to log at least 30 minutes of action. Although the season has drifted far from Mount Saint Mary’s original vision, expect the Knights to bring renewed energy and a spoiler’s mentality into the Max Stern Athletic Center as they look to spark a turnaround.

Rebounding:

The Macs have been a force on the glass all season, and they will look to continue that trend Saturday night. Rebounding has consistently been one of Yeshiva’s strengths, and it sets up a clear opportunity against a Mount Saint Mary team that has struggled mightily in that area. The Knights have yet to win the rebounding battle in a single game this season. Since November 22, Mount Saint Mary has been outrebounded by at least nine boards per game, with an average deficit of more than 17 rebounds. With Oselka anchoring the paint and an aggressive, physical approach from the rest of the lineup, the Macs will aim to fully capitalize on that advantage. Dominance on the boards should translate into more second-chance opportunities, longer possessions, and greater control of the game’s tempo.

Role Players Stepping Up:

Beyond the duo of Samet and Oselka, the Maccabees face a glaring void in consistent secondary scoring, a deficiency that could prove fatal as the intensity of conference play ramps up. While possessing one of the most prolific scorers in Division III is a luxury, the math is simple: Yeshiva cannot rely solely on two players to shoulder the entire offensive burden. To mount a legitimate challenge for the Skyline title, the Macs must cultivate a more diversified attack. At this level of competition, sustainable success requires a lineup where all five players on the floor pose a credible threat to score in crunch time.

However, a potential solution to this puzzle emerged on Wednesday night. Itcovitchi provided a beacon of optimism, delivering one of his most complete performances of the season by erupting for 18 points. His offensive outburst offered a glimpse of the balance Yeshiva desperately needs. Moving forward, the coaching staff will be looking to replicate that production, searching for a reliable third and fourth option who can consistently crack double digits and provide the depth necessary to survive the grind of high-stakes conference battles.

Free Throws:

For a team that prides itself on discipline and execution, the free-throw line has quietly become an unlikely Achilles’ heel. What was a reliable weapon last season has become a source of volatility, introducing an element of uncertainty into the final minutes of tight contests. This regression has already haunted the Macs in key spots, most notably in their losses to Chapman and Illinois Wesleyan, where sub-70 percent shooting performances left critical points on the floor. In the pressure cooker of the Skyline Conference tournament, those missed opportunities can be the difference between cutting down the nets and an early exit.

How to Watch:

Tip-off is at 8:30 PM at the Max Stern Athletics Center. You can also catch the game right here on the MacsLive YouTube Channel.