The Macs proved once again they can thrive under pressure, taking down St. Joseph’s University Brooklyn in an overtime thriller, 92-85.
As usual, Zevi Samet was the man of the hour. The sharpshooting guard dropped a season-high 36 points, going 12-22 from the field and an incredible 10-18 from deep. Samet’s scoring spree wasn’t the only highlight, though. Yoav Oselka had a career night, putting up 22 points, while Skyline Player of the Week Max Zakheim added 17, and Roy Itcovichi chipped in 12.
On defense, Oselka and Luke Cronin held it down in the paint. Oselka grabbed nine boards, blocked two shots, and snagged three steals, while Cronin swatted a career-high three shots. With the win, the Macs now sit at 9-7 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
How It Happened:
• The Macs wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a quick 10-0 lead before the Bears even got on the board. The Bears responded with a 10-point run of their own to cut it to 12-10.
• Buckets from Samet, Zakheim, Oselka, and Itcovichi pushed YU’s lead back to 22-12. By halftime, the Macs had built an 18-point cushion, heading to the locker room up 52-34.
• The second half started strong for the Macs, but things got dicey as their offense cooled off. St. Joe’s clawed back and tied the game at 58 with just under 11 minutes to go.
• SJB even grabbed their first lead at 59-58, setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle. After five lead changes, the Macs reclaimed control at 66-65 with six minutes left.
• With seconds remaining and the Macs up by two, Cronin came up clutch with a block, but a foul by Samet on the rebound sent SJBK to the line. They nailed both free throws to tie it at 81 and send the game to overtime.
•From there, it was the Samet show. He took over in OT, scoring all 11 of Yeshiva’s points, including three dagger threes. St. Joe’s simply couldn’t keep up, and the Macs left their gym with a hard-fought 92-85 win.
Zevi Samet and the Macs withstood a furious rally by Saint Joseph’s Brooklyn en route to a 92-85 overtime win, improving to 6-1 in Skyline Conference play. (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
Zevi Samet Took Over:
Let’s be real—when Zevi’s feeling it, no one’s stopping him. He dropped 36 points, hitting 10 threes, and basically owned overtime, scoring all 11 of Yeshiva’s points. He was the guy St. Joe’s couldn’t figure out.
Oselka and the Crew Stepped Up:
Yoav Oselka had himself a night with 22 points, nine rebounds, and some big defensive plays. Max Zakheim and Roy Itcovichi chipped in with 29 combined points, giving the Macs the depth they needed to get it done.
Clutch Defense When It Counted:
Sure, St. Joe’s made a run, but the Macs locked in when it mattered. Luke Cronin’s huge block at the end of regulation was a game-saver, and the defense in overtime held the Bears to just four points. That kind of effort sealed the deal.
For Yeshiva (9-7, 6-1 Skyline):
- Zevi Samet dropped 36 points, Yoav Oselka added 22, Max Zalheim had 17 and Roy Itcovichi contributed with 12.
- Oselka grabbed nine rebounds, Samet had 7, and Itovichi 6.
- The Macs outscored the Bears 11-4 in overtime
For Saint Joseph’s Brooklyn (4-13, 1-7 Skyline)
• Timothy Richardson dropped 29 points leading the Bears.
Collin Mills added 17 points and 9 rebounds
The Bears outscored off the bench Macs 23-4
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