Same Mission, Same Result: Macs Stay Perfect in Skyline with Road Win at Maritime

Different gym, same outcome.

Coming off Zevi Samet’s historic 52-point night, the Macs showed no signs of a letdown on the road, handling Maritime in a 94-78 win at Riesenberg Gymnasium. Yeshiva stayed composed early, broke the game open late in the first half, and then methodically pulled away in the second, improving to 12-0 in Skyline play.

Behind a dominant night from Yoav Oselka, elite playmaking from Yair Dovrat, and balanced scoring throughout the lineup, the Macs once again proved that when they defend, share the ball, and control the paint, conference games tilt quickly — no matter the building.

How It Happened

First Half :

Maritime hung around early, matching YU’s energy and preventing the Macs from pulling away right out of the gate. The game stayed tight through the opening stretch, with Yeshiva holding only a slim edge as both teams settled in.

The separation came when YU began imposing its identity. A tough finish from Roy Itcovichi sparked a run, and Zevi Samet followed by taking over offensively, stringing together multiple buckets to finally give the Macs breathing room. As the ball movement sharpened and the defense tightened, Maritime struggled to keep YU out of the paint.

By the end of the half, the Macs had turned a close game into a comfortable cushion, heading into the locker room firmly in control and setting the stage for a second-half push.

Second Half:

The second half followed a familiar pattern: Maritime kept swinging, and YU kept answering — but with increasing authority. When the Privateers briefly trimmed the margin to 55-47, it felt less like a threat and more like a checkpoint. The Macs never rushed, never forced, and never lost the script.

That’s when the game tilted for good. Oselka went to work inside, sealing defenders and finishing through contact. Zakheim turned stops into points in transition, and Dovrat dictated pace, picking apart rotations and finding shooters and cutters exactly where they needed to be. Every possession had purpose, and Maritime began to feel it.

Over the decisive stretch, YU turned efficiency into separation. The Macs knocked down shots at a blistering rate, ballooning the lead to 82-62, but more importantly, they did it without abandoning structure. Post touches led to kick-outs. Ball reversals led to open threes. Defensive rebounds became immediate pressure the other way.

From there, the finish was clinical. YU stayed locked in, rotated bodies, and closed the door without drama, walking out of Throggs Neck with a 94-78 road win that reflected control, balance, and maturity — not just a hot shooting night.

Yoav Oselka dominated the paint and led the Macs with 27 points and 12 rebounds (Photo Credit: MacsLive).

Storylines:

1. Oselka Owned the Paint

Yoav Oselka was the most dominant player on the floor. He finished with 27 points, 4 assists, and 12 rebounds controlling the glass, sealing defenders deep, and anchoring the defense. Maritime had no answer for his physicality inside.

2. Dovrat the Distributor

Yair Dovrat delivered one of the best playmaking performances of the season, racking up 13 assists, the sixth-most in a single game in YU history. He consistently put teammates in scoring positions and dictated tempo all night.

3. Picking Up Where They Left Off

Just days after Samet’s record-breaking outburst, the Macs showed maturity and balance. Samet added 24 points, Zakheim chipped in 14, Itcovichi and Bardichev each scored 10, and the offense never stalled. The scoring load was shared, the ball never stuck, and the confidence carried over seamlessly.

Stats Summary

Yeshiva Leaders

Yoav Oselka: 27 pts, 12 reb, 4 assists

Zevi Samet: 24 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl

Yair Dovrat: 13 ast, 6 reb, 1 blk, 1 stl

Max Zakheim: 14 pts, 9 reb, 4 assists

Roy Itcovichi: 10 pts, 4 stl

Dothan Bardichev: 10 pts

Team Notes

FG%: 54.9%

Points in the Paint: 64

Points off Turnovers: 20

Assists: 26

Rebounds: 46-29 advantage

Up Next:

The Macs stay on the road, traveling to Manhattanville University on Sunday, February 8 at 12:00 PM, looking to keep their perfect Skyline record intact.