Gameday Preview Yeshiva University @ Randolph-Macon College

For the third time in the last four seasons, the Macs are stepping far beyond the familiar streets of the Northeast for a slate of out-of-conference battles. In past years, the road has taken them to Illinois to face then #21 Illinois Wesleyan and Webster in the Jack Sikma tournament, and last season to Ohio for showdowns with #19 Mount Union and Wooster. But this year’s journey is different; heavier, tougher, and carrying a deeper meaning. This time, the Macs are traveling south to face the #2 team in the nation, Randolph-Macon, before turning around on Sunday to take on #15 Mary Washington. In terms of sheer difficulty, it may be the most daunting road trip Yeshiva has taken in recent memory. Two nationally ranked opponents, both on their home courts, both expecting to defend their territory. In fact, #2 Randolph-Macon will be the highest ranked team YU has played in its history.

But for the Macs, this trip is about more than just measuring themselves against elite competition. It’s about unfinished business. Back in the legendary 2019–2020 season, the year of Ryan Turell, Gabe Leifer, Ofek Reef, and the Halpert brothers, the Macs marched all the way to the Sweet 16. Their next opponent was set: Randolph-Macon, in what promised to be a heavyweight clash between two teams at the peak of Division III basketball. Yet that game never tipped off. The pandemic shut down the tournament, leaving players, coaches, and fans across the country stunned. The Macs’ dream run ended not with a buzzer, but with silence.

Now, more than five years later, the rosters may be new, the faces different, and the stakes not part of March, but the moment carries the weight of a long-awaited meeting. The Macs will finally step onto the court against the Yellow Jackets, not to rewrite history, but to finally turn the page on a chapter left open since 2020.

The Macs are coming off a sloppy, back-and-forth battle against Chapman on Wednesday night, a game that felt like it could tilt either way until Joe Jack caught fire and buried three straight threes, swinging the momentum to the Panthers for good. Despite the loss, there were bright spots across the board. Zevi Samet poured in 34 points, showcasing once again why he’s one of the most electric scorers in Division III. But it was the all-around efforts of Yoav Oselka, Yair Dovrat, and Nate Jacobs that truly kept Yeshiva in the fight. Oselka delivered a monster performance, stuffing the stat sheet with 14 points, 10 rebounds (three on the offensive glass), 5 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals, the kind of two-way brilliance that embodies the heart of this team. In his blue-and-white debut, Dovrat added 13 points on a scorching 80% shooting, flashing the efficiency and composure that made him such a coveted addition. Off the bench, Jacobs provided an invaluable spark, contributing 8 points, 5 rebounds, and a steal in just 17 minutes. If the Macs hope to pull off an upset against the second-ranked team in the country, they’ll need all of them, and more, firing on every cylinder.

Zevi Samet and the Macs look to rebound after a crushing season-opening loss. (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)

On the other side, Randolph-Macon enters this matchup in midseason form. After advancing to the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, the Yellow Jackets have opened the new season with a commanding 3–0 start. That stretch includes a win over Gettysburg, a team receiving Top-25 votes, and a bruising road victory against #9 Christopher Newport, proving they can win high-level games in hostile environments. Offensively, they’re powered by their veteran backcourt: seniors Keishawn Pulley Jr. and Jabril Robinson, a dynamic duo with the poise, physicality, and scoring touch to control the tempo from the opening tip. For the Macs, containing that backcourt will require discipline and communication. They’ll need to be vocal navigating screens, alert on switches, and intentional about disrupting Randolph-Macon’s rhythm. Just as importantly, Yeshiva must leverage their attacking ability– getting downhill, earning trips to the free-throw line, and putting Macon’s guards in early foul trouble. If the Macs can tilt that battle in their favor, they’ll give themselves a fighting chance against the nation’s No. 2 team.

Free Throws:

Last season, the Macs were among the nation’s best from the charity stripe, a strength that often sealed close games and separated them from their opponents late. But on Wednesday night, that reliability vanished. Yeshiva shot just 55.6% from the free-throw line in the second half, a staggering drop for a team that was fifth in the nation in free throw percentage last season. If the Macs hope to upset the Yellow Jackets, they must rediscover their touch at the line. Randolph-Macon has allowed 27 free-throw attempts per game so far this season, meaning opportunities will be there. But opportunities only matter if they’re converted. In a game where every possession and every point is magnified, the Macs cannot afford to leave free points on the table.

Containing the Senior Guards:

In their loss on Wednesday, the Macs struggled to contain Chapman’s backcourt. Cruz Billings was a handful all night, weaving through defenders, drawing fouls, and finishing with a team-high 17 points. His running mate, Jake Heberle– despite an off shooting night– still produced a commanding 16-point, 12-rebound, 3-assist performance. The lesson is clear: the Macs must be sharper, quicker, and more disciplined defensively. The challenge only gets tougher tonight. Randolph-Macon not only leans on their senior guards for scoring and pace, but they also run an offense built around constant screening actions – ball screens, stagger screens, off-ball flare screens, and re-screens designed to free up their guards for clean looks or downhill drives. To avoid another difficult night on the perimeter, the Macs must dramatically elevate their communication and defensive discipline. They’ll need to talk through every screen, switch or fight over them decisively, and stay locked in on help rotations. If they allow Macon’s guards to navigate those screens freely, the Yellow Jackets will control the game from start to finish.

Maximizing Offensive Opportunity:

While the Macs technically won the turnover battle on Wednesday, their overall performance in this area was far from clean. Yeshiva committed 17 turnovers in 40 minutes, with six different players recording at least two. Against elite teams, that margin for error simply doesn’t exist.

Randolph-Macon plays a disciplined man-to-man defense designed to punish lazy passes and force mistakes. For the Macs, this means every cut, every screen, every swing of the ball in their motion offense must be intentional. Crisp passing will create open looks, sloppy passing will hand away possessions. If they want to compete with the No. 2 team in the nation, the Macs must maximize every offensive trip down the floor. Efficiency isn’t optional; it’s mandatory.

How to Watch:

Tip-off is at 8:15 PM at the Crenshaw Gym in Ashland, Virginia. You can catch the game right here on the Randolph-Macon Flow Stream.

Disclaimer: A subscription to FloSports is required to stream the game due to the ODAC’s (Randolph-Macon’s conference) agreement with FloSports streaming service. Subscriptions cost $20/month or $108 annually and allow access to all of FloSports’ content.

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