From the moment the grind began in October, this Macs team carried sky-high expectations. Day after day, they pushed through grueling 6 AM practices, battled five of the nation’s top 20 teams, and endured every challenge the season threw their way. The road was anything but smooth. Now, they enter the Skyline Playoffs as the conference’s third seed. The highs and lows of the journey are behind them—what matters is what comes next. As the saying goes: Life should be like an EKG machine, if it is flat there is a problem. With everything on the line, the Macs are ready to create their highest peak yet—right when it matters most.
The Macs (15-10, 12-4 Skyline) enter the playoffs as the third seed, set to face a familiar foe in the sixth-seeded Purchase Panthers (14-11, 10-6 Skyline). This matchup presents an opportunity for both teams to learn from past encounters and capitalize on every moment.
During the regular season, the Macs claimed victory in both meetings, securing a 66-50 win on the road before taking a close 90-82 triumph at home in the MSAC. The Macs have showcased strong performances across the board, with Or Sundjyvsky’s electrifying 32-point, 15-rebound explosion off the bench in their eight point victory standing out as a defining moment. Meanwhile, the Panthers have leaned on their star, Rashid Nikiema, who ranks third in the Skyline Conference in scoring. With both teams eager to advance, this clash promises to be a fun one where the Macs will look to complete a three-game sweep of Purchase.
Zevi Samet and the Macs host Purchase in the Skyline Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
Creating Second Chance Opportunities:
A crucial factor in the Macs’ path to victory will be their dominance on the boards. They must be relentless in securing rebounds on every missed shot to create valuable second-chance opportunities. Since entering conference play, their rebounding has improved significantly. In their first ten games, they averaged just six offensive rebounds per game, but over their last fifteen, that number has surged to over fourteen. Maintaining this momentum will be essential for outdueling Purchase.
Flexing Their Depth:
The Macs for the most part this year have been led by a strong frontcourt of Zevi and Max (averaging a combined 36.8 points per game). In order for Yeshiva to make a deep playoff run—starting with this matchup—they must be firing on all cylinders. The entire roster has the potential to contribute offensively and build momentum. Additionally, they will need to play relentless, suffocating defense to contain Nikiema and the Panthers' formidable attack.
Team Basketball:
The Macs, who lead the Skyline Conference in scoring, will face a tough defensive challenge against Purchase. The Panthers have allowed the fourth-fewest points per game, keeping opponents under 70, while also holding them to the second-lowest field goal percentage (39.4%) and the lowest three-point percentage (27.7%) in the conference. For the Macs to maintain their impressive 45% shooting clip—the best in the Skyline—they’ll need crisp ball movement and smart decision-making. Making that extra pass to find the open man will be crucial in breaking down Purchase’s tough defense and generating high-quality looks at the basket.
How to Watch:
Tip-off is at 8:00 PM at the Max Stern Athletics Center. You can also catch the game right here on the MacsLive YouTube Channel.
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