Ruthless After the Break: Macs Close Perfect Skyline Run in Newburgh

Perfect Isn’t Loud. It’s Ruthless.

This one wasn’t about the standings.

The #1 seed was already locked. Hosting rights already secured. Mount Saint Mary came in 0–14 in conference. On paper, it felt procedural, and it was.

And after a sluggish first half, the Macs reminded everyone exactly who they are.

Yeshiva closed the regular season the right way — a 73–60 win in Newburgh — finishing a flawless 16–0 in Skyline play. Perfection. Wire to wire.

Mount Saint Mary punched first. After YU jumped ahead 13–7, the Knights answered, tied it, then pushed ahead by seven. The Macs went into halftime trailing 27–24. And then playoff mode flipped on. Within a minute of the second half, the game was tied. Yoav Oselka converted a three-point play to give YU a 30–27 lead — and from there, the Macs never looked back. The edge sharpened. The defense tightened. The ball started humming. Double-digit lead at 39–29.Sixteen-point cushion at 71–55. Tone restored. This wasn’t domination from the opening tip. It was controlled when it mattered, which was a confidence Yeshiva needed as they moved into the Skyline playoffs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• YU jumped out 13–7, looking comfortable and in rhythm.

• Mount Saint Mary answered with a run of their own, tying it at 13–13 before stretching the lead to 20–13.

• Bardichev, Samet, and Zakheim knocked down key triples to keep the Macs within striking distance, but YU went into halftime trailing 27–24.

• The Macs tied it at 27–27 within the first minute. Oselka’s three-point play gave YU a 30–27 lead — one they would never give back.

• Zakheim’s steals and active hands sparked transition opportunities as YU’s pressure turned into separation.

• A decisive run pushed the lead to 39–29 with 13:42 left, flipping the game’s tone completely.

• The advantage ballooned to 71–55 late before YU sealed a 73–60 win — and a perfect 16–0 conference record.

Halftime Adjustments Hit Like a Switch:

This game flipped in the first 90 seconds of the second half.

Down three at the break, YU didn’t panic — they recalibrated. Within a minute it was tied. Then Yoav Oselka’s three-point play gave them the lead for good. The defensive pressure tightened. Closeouts were sharper. Rotations were quicker. What felt sloppy in the first half suddenly felt surgical. Championship-level teams don’t always dominate for 40 minutes. They dominate the moments that matter. YU owned the first stretch of the second half — and that decided everything.

Defensive Activity Turned Into Separation:

The score went from tight to comfortable because of the hands.

Max Zakheim’s steals weren’t just stat-padding — they were momentum plays. Live-ball takeaways turned into transition offense. Pressure turned into pace. Pace turned into breathing room.

When the Macs pushed the lead from 30–27 to 39–29, that wasn’t random. It was the byproduct of defensive urgency finally matching their talent.

In the first half, Mount Saint Mary dictated tempo. In the second half, YU suffocated it.

That’s ruthless.

Veteran Composure When the Game Got Annoying:

Let’s call it what it was: this was the definition of a trap-feel game.

#1 seed locked. Opponent 0–14 in conference.Road gym.

And for 20 minutes, it felt sleepy. Yet Bardichev hit timely threes. Samet settled possessions when needed. Oselka attacked downhill. Zakheim impacted both ends. When it was time to restore order, the seniors restored order.

There was no panic. No hero ball. Just control.

That’s what 16–0 looks like. Not always flashy. Not always loud. It's inevitable.