Reality Check at Home: Macs Battle Early but Fall to #1 Trinity Bantams

Noah Motechin
1 hour ago
3 min read

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 just 41–29, but by the final whistle the Bantams’ physicality, depth, and relentless pressure proved too much as Trinity closed out a 76–52 win on the road.

How It Happened:

Trinity won the tip and both teams opened with chaotic possessions. Blocks, missed layups, and hurried passes were the story as three minutes in, it was somehow still 5–0.
Four minutes into the game, the “Red Rocket” returned: Max Zakheim drilled a deep three for his first points of the season after missing the first three games.
The opening stretch felt more like a messy high-school scrimmage than a D3 game. Neither team looked comfortable, and both sides traded turnovers and wild shots.
Zevi “Monsey Mamba” Samet finally injected life into the building with a deep pull-up from six feet beyond the arc, making the game 12-10 Trinity.
The teams traded the lead on four straight possessions as the game finally found rhythm.
After the Macs went up 18-16, Trinity responded like the top team in the nation, ripping off a 10–3 run that reasserted their control and gave them a 26-21 lead.
Henry Vetter caught fire late in the half, a double-spin finish, a transition three, and constant attacking that pushed the lead into double digits.
YU closed the half with stronger ball movement and better defensive communication, but the Bantams maintained their edge, up 41–29 at the break.
The second half opened exactly the way the first ended — with Henry Vetter taking over the game.
Trinity opened the half with a 9–0 run, highlighted by Vetter scoring three straight buckets. YU burned a timeout just 2:15 in, now down 50-29.
It took five and a half minutes for the Macs to score their first field goal of the half — a three from Roy Itcovichi, his first points of the season.
From there, the Macs’ offense stalled into a predictable rhythm: dribble down the clock, force a contested look, and race back on defense.
With 10 minutes to go and only Itcovichi’s three on the board, the “Henry Vetter Show” continued as Trinity’s star pushed the lead to 28.
The lone bright spot for YU was the opportunity for the younger players to get some minutes — a chance for development and future depth.
Free throws once again plagued the Macs, continuing a season-long trend of “free throws not being free.”
Trinity controlled the remainder of the game, closing out a 76–52 win.

Max Zakheim returned and made his presence felt, but it didn’t matter as the Macs were outclassed by the top-ranked Trinity Bantams 76-52 on Thursday night. (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)

The Red Rocket’s Return:

For the first time this season, the Macs’ intended starting backcourt was intact. Even in a loss, the benefits were clear — better spacing, more defensive pressure, and more reliable ballhandling. The first half showed what this group can look like once the rhythm settles in.

Trinity Showed Why They’re #1:

The Bantams entered averaging 100 points per game, and they played with the confidence of a top program. Their physicality inside, control of the glass, and punishment of turnovers (27 points off giveaways) were the difference. Anytime YU made a push, Trinity’s veterans answered immediately.

Zevi Sparked the Only First-Half Surge:

Zevi Samet (14 points) provided the biggest punches of the night — deep threes, steals, and spurts where he single-handedly shifted momentum. Even on an off shooting night overall, his gravity kept YU competitive early.

Stats Summary:

Yeshiva Leaders:

Zevi Samet: 14 pts, 3 reb, 3 stl, 3–7 from deep
Yair Dovrat: 8 pts, 3 ast, 5–5 FT
Dothan Bardichev: 7 pts

Trinity Leaders:

Henry Vetter: 20 pts (8–11 FG), 6 reb
Jarrel Okorougo: 16 pts, 11 reb
Jared Berry: 16 pts off the bench

Team Stats Highlights:

Rebounds: Trinity 43 – YU 38
Points in the Paint: Trinity 48 – YU 8
Points off Turnovers: Trinity 27 – YU 3
Free Throws: YU 13–19; Trinity 7–14

Up Next:

The Macs travel up to Boston on Sunday, November 23 at 12:00 PM to take on Tufts University.