From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the Macs proved they were built for this moment.
The raucous Max Stern Athletic Center crowd was popping, fueling Yeshiva University to an emphatic 88-59 victory over Purchase in the Skyline Conference quarterfinals Tuesday. It wasn't always pretty, but the Macs turned the tightly contested affair into an onslaught with a full-throttle 17-0 blitz that left no doubt about their championship aspirations. The next stop is a trip to Bronxville on Thursday with Sarah Lawrence in the Skyline semifinals.
How It Happened :
Purchase came out swinging, determined to shake the script and play spoiler. The Panthers jumped out to an 11-4 lead, raining threes against YU's zone defense and forcing early turnovers. Chad Duke led the charge as Purchase dictated the tempo, turning the game into a fast-paced track meet.
The Macs absorbed the punch and fired back. Yoav Oselka muscled through the packed paint for tough buckets while Max Zakheim splashed a clutch three to tie it up. YU attacked the rim, earning trips to the free-throw line and the conference leaders from the charity stripe converted, flipping the score to 20-18 Macs with 10:39 left in the first half.
The Macs' defense tightened, stifling Purchase's transition game and forcing rushed shots. Dothan Bardichev was everywhere, cutting, positioning, and finishing at the rim. Zevi Samet drilled a three off an inbound play to push the lead to 25-18. Or Sundjyvsky swatted a shot, then found Samet in transition for another dagger. The MSAC erupted to the tune of a 27-21 advantage.
Purchase seemed rattled and repeatedly turned the ball over, including a crushing travel call. The Macs kept cutting, moving, and creating high-percentage looks inside. By halftime, the game had transformed. Zakheim buried a three from the left wing (38-29), and then Sundjvsky's Half-court swish sent the crowd into a frenzy! The Macs took a commanding 43-29 lead into the break.
Purchase came out desperate, cutting the deficit to 45-38 early in the second half. For a moment, the Panthers clawed within four (51-47, 13:15 left), threatening to make it a thriller.
YU responded with a haymaker. Samet splashed a three before Oselka swiped a steal and threw down with a vicious dunk. The building shook as YU's lead ballooned to 56-47.
Zakheim threaded a dime to Roy Itcovichi for another slam, while Macs switched to man defense and trapped the Panthers in their cage.
Sundjyvsky continued to fly around, doing the dirty work and suffocating Purchase's attack before Samet drilled another trey, and Zakheim took charge. It was led 70-49 with 7:15 left, and fans started booking transportation to SLC.
The Panthers wholly unraveled as Samet poured it on, scoring at will in transition. The Skyline Conference MVP finished with 30 points, sealing the win with a smooth layup to make it 78-53, as YU coasted to an 88-59 victory.
The Macs routed Purchase 88-59 on Tuesday, at the Max Stern Athletic Center in the Skyline Conference quarterfinals. (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
Relentless Defense & Second-Half Adjustments:
After a back-and-forth first half, the Macs cranked up the intensity on defense, switching to man-to-man coverage that completely stifled Purchase. Led by Sundjvsky's hustle, YU forced turnovers, shut down transition opportunities, and held the Panthers to 30 second-half points. The Macs' defensive pressure sparked their game-changing 19-3 spurt, turning a close contest into a blowout.
Zevi Samet's Scoring Explosion & Balanced Offense:
Samet was unstoppable, dropping 30 points, but It wasn't a one-person show. YU's depth shined, with Sundjyvsky (11 pts, 12 reb) and Luke Cronin (12 pts, 10 reb) posting double-doubles, and Zakheim adding 14 himself. The Macs spread the floor, made the extra pass, and broke down Purchase's defense possession after possession.
Dominance on the Glass & Second-Chance Opportunities:
The Macs won the battle in the paint, outscoring Purchase 42-34 down low and crushing them in second-chance points (19-6). Their heavyweight rebounding, led by Sundjyvsky and Cronin, created extra possessions and drained the life out of the Panthers. When YU controls the boards like this, they're nearly impossible to beat. They'll have to do it again Thursday in Bronxville against a squad that has broken their hearts twice this year. First, they were on the wrong side of a Sportscenter Top 10 moment, followed by a comeback for the ages for the Gold Division title.
Up Next:
The road to a championship continues Thursday night at Sarah Lawrence at 7PM. The Macs have zero interest in stopping here. As they proved Tuesday, they're just getting started.
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