MSAC Magic: Macs Finally in the Win Column After Rallying Past NYU
- Marvin Azrak
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
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 basketball staff. Boys and girls elementary squads, high school teams, coaches, packed in. Students from YU’s Katz School of Science and Health rolled in to add some juice to the crowd. And for the cherry on top, Ari Ackerman, the entrepreneur and co-owner of the Miami Marlins, strolled into the gym. He even joked that he felt a 1-5 record coming by the end of the night.
NYU entered, undefeated at 6-0 and receiving votes in the D3hoops.com national poll. Historically, this matchup had belonged to the Violets. YU hadn't beaten NYU since 2016.
Yes, the Macs were 0-5. Yet, if you watched them, you knew that the number didn't tell the whole story. They'd been through a gauntlet—#1 Trinity, #2 Randolph-Macon, #4 Tufts, #15 Mary Washington, and Chapman, resulting in competitive games, late game mistakes, and overtime heartbreakers. Head coach Elliot Steinmetz had said it himself:
"We will play with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Not because we think we are great, but because we aren't afraid to try and become great."
Inside the locker room, first-year manager Kobe Kurtz summed it up best: "The panic level is zero." Still, the question lingered: can we finally get that win? The answer was a resounding yes.
How It Happened:
- The game began like a punch to the gut.
- NYU jumped out 13-4. Macs were turning the ball over like it was contagious.
- Then the Violets started raining threes like they brought their own weather system.
- Six threes in six minutes. A 24-8 lead before the Macs knew what hit them.14:20 left, 29-13, NYU unconscious from deep.
- Aside from the threes, YU was lucky that NYU didn't hit every single backdoor cut—they were also getting whatever they wanted early.
- YU found oxygen. Max Zakheim got involved on the glass. The defense tightened, and then we finally got into tonight's episode of the Zevi Samet show.
- With the Macs down 41-28, Zevi Samet caught fire. Triples. Transition buckets. Swagger. Suddenly, the gym was awake, and YU closed the half on a 14-5 explosion, including a Samet buzzer-beater floater, pulling within 46-42.
- In the second half, the Violets came out strong, pushing the lead back to 54-47. Yet the Macs responded with pure grit.
- Or Sundjyvsky took charge, then drew a foul. Samet sliced down the left side for a lefty lay-in that woke up Coach Steinmetz's inner GIF fist pump. And then Or tied it, sending the fans into a frenzy.
- NYU went six full minutes without a field goal as YU ripped off a 12–1 run. A Zevi triple from the corner. Dothan Bardichev from deep. Transition three. Ball movement slicing up NYU's zone. It was YU by twelve—73–61 with 8 minutes left. The crowd was at the peak of its powers, as MDY coach Ralph Terzi added, "The atmosphere in this gym is unbelievable."
- The gym was shaking amidst a memorable evening. Yaacov Lazar's broadcast debut was fantastic and Lazaric. Yosef Silver was brilliant, giving viewers the purple and blue colors. Rookie Chaim Stark with the “Shtark” sideline heat. Former MacsLive President Oren Glickman was the MacsLive 25th anniversary special guest, so you can't lose when he's in the crowd. MacsLive even snagged an interview with Ackerman. Everything about the night felt big; the only thing left was an elusive YU win.
- With 3:40 left, Samet threaded a gorgeous feed to Itcovichi. Then, Zakheim went "Red Rocket Mode" for an and-one that nearly tore the roof off the MSAC. Yet it only set the stage for what was about to happen next.
- Welcome to the signature Zevi moment: He dropped his defender. The gym inhaled. He splashed a dagger three. 85-75 Yeshiva with 1:15 left. The place went bananas. Samet was up to 29 on the night.
- However, because this season can never be simple, YU started turning it over in press mode. NYU hit free throws.
- Then, off a missed free throw that Sundjyvsky couldn't back out, NYU drilled a three. Suddenly: 85–82. 55 seconds left. Déjà vu from previous collapses started to creep in.
- Roy Itcovichi hit one of two, making it 86-82. NYU’s Carnegie Johnson drew a foul. Hit the first. Three point game. Missed the second. Andrew Waldman grabbed the offensive board. Everyone in the gym held their breath as sharpshooter Darren Rubin launched a potential game-tying three from the left wing, and thankfully for YU, it rimmed out.
- Then YU faced their season-long demon: closing a game at the free-throw line. Itcovichi split. Sundjyvsky split. Not perfect—but on this night it was finally enough for their elusive victory. YU 88 NYU 83, and they're now 1-0 with Magen David in attendance.
Zevi Samet Took Control of the Moment:
This whole game flipped when Zevi went nuclear. Once he hit those back-to-back threes in the first half, the "Jews supporting other Jews,” and “geshmak crowd" as he put it postgame, woke up, and so did the Macs. He finished with 29 points, and most of them came exactly when YU needed a momentum punch. From left-handed drives to step-back threes to that ankle-melting jumper late, he basically refused to let NYU breathe. When Zevi took over, the whole team was elevated.
Roy Itcovichi Dominated the Paint:
You can talk about scoring all you want, but this game was won by toughness—and Roy set the tone. He poured in 18 points, but the real story was his nine rebounds, including the game-saving board after NYU missed a free throw. Every time the Macs needed a reset possession or a physical finish, the redhead delivered on Violet Road. Watching him battle inside made it clear that YU finally had the interior presence they’ve been missing.
Macs Nation became a sixth man:
The Max Stern Athletic Center was buzzing from tipoff. Yeshiva Students, Magen David teams, Katz students, alumni, kids, and Marlins Owner Ari Ackerman—all actively pushed the Macs into a higher gear. When NYU went cold in the second half, YU exploded on a 12–1 run fueled by crowd energy, pressure defense, and actual belief. By the time Samet hit the corner triple to make it 66-60, the place was unhinged in the best way possible. Even Silver said the sound went from bronze to gold on the broadcast. "The gym feels like playoff energy right now". I wouldn't go that far, but that's what happens when you win a basketball game against a powerhouse like crosstown rivals NYU.
They Held It Together When It Got Messy:
Yes, NYU cut a 10-point lead down to three late. Yes, YU turned it over in the press again. Yes, they had 21 turnovers. Yes, there were some shaky free throws. Yet for once, the Macs made just enough plays. They held NYU to 0 field goals for six straight minutes in the second half. They got the rebound after the potential game-tying three rimmed out. And then Itcovichi and Sundjyvsky hit the free throws that finally iced it. For a team that's lost tight games all month, closing one out felt huge. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress—and a win they desperately needed.
Up Next:
The Macs host University of Saint Joseph on Saturday Night at the MSAC. Tip-Off is at 8:30PM.