Coach Elliot Steinmetz said we would learn much about this year's Macs, win or lose. After being annihilated 84-43 by No. 5 Trinity in Hartford, Connecticut on Sunday, they discovered the divide between them and the elite. The Bantams defense, physicality, and execution were masterful, showing what it takes to compete at the highest level, and they did it for 40 minutes.
Trinity scored 52 in the second half. Yeshiva scored 43 for the game. If the Macs want to hang with title contenders, they know what that bar looks like. Trinity didn't allow easy buckets, and they made the visitors pay for every defensive lapse and poor offensive possession. There was hope at intermission that YU, only down 32-27, could pull off the impossible, but a 13-0 Bantam run in the opening 2:45 of the second frame kickstarted the game-breaking 30-3 run in 9:45, putting the Macs in their place.
How it Happened:
-The Yeshiva-Trinity matchup started with a frenzy. There were no timeouts in the first half, which meant turnover galore and up-and-down transitional basketball. The Macs seemed ready for the challenge at first sight.
-Max Zakheim relentlessly carved his way into the paint. Meanwhile, Zevi Samet, heavily guarded by Trinity's two-way star Henry Vetter, found ways to contribute. Twice, Luke Cronin fed Samet inside to tie the game at 10. Conversely, YU's defense was locked in early, trapping Vetter at halfcourt and disrupting the Bantam's offense.
-Roy Itcovichi set Or Sundjyvsky up for a corner three, and Samet returned the favor to Cronin, putting Yeshiva up 18-17. The Macs had momentum—but it didn't last. A 6-0 Trinity run gave the Bantams a lead they wouldn't give back.
-A Zakheim steal turned into an Effy Freundlich layup, and a Yoav Oselka jumper tied it at 27. That would be the final feeling moments of confidence YU had. A Vetter three-pointer ignited a staggering 57-16 run by Trinity. At halftime, the Bantams led 32-27. In hindsight, the Macs were lucky to be that close.
-The second half was a Bantam tantrum. Five quick points from Will Dorion, followed by back-to-back threes from Vetter and Drew Lazarre, turned a five-point game into a 45-27 blowout in no time. YU finally got back on the board with an Oselka bucket at 16:16, but by then, it was 47-30; the writing was on the Yellow and navy Bantam wall.
-Trinity cashed in 18 unanswered points over the next six minutes, ballooning the advantage to 65-30. Their press suffocated the Macs. They feasted in transition and even outshot Yeshiva from downtown—beating them at their own game.
-Even when Trinity emptied the bench, their reserves were relentless. By the time the final buzzer sounded, it was an 84-43 romp for the Bantams, who remain undefeated at 6-0, while the Macs drop to 3-2.
Zevi Samet was limited to a season-low 12 points as the Macs were crushed by fifth-ranked Trinity (CT) 84-43 on Sunday. (Akiva Poppers/Macslive)
Cold Shooting from Downtown:
The Macs thrive on the three-point shot, but it wasn't their day. Going 4-for-20 from beyond the arc (a frigid 20%) won't cut it against a top-tier team like Trinity. Meanwhile, the Bantams were sharp, hitting 8-of-17 (47.1%), doubling YU in makes. It's tough to keep pace when your bread and butter isn't working.
Turnover Trouble and Transition Woes:
The Macs committed 24 turnovers, with a whopping 14 in the second half when their upset bid slipped away. Trinity punished them with relentless transition play, scoring 33 points off turnovers. Compare that to just 11 for Yeshiva; you can tell who played faster. YU played right into their opponents hands. A half where no timeouts are called to slow the game down is rare for them, but not the Bantams, who are used to this. The fast-break numbers tell the same story, 21-6 in favor of Trinity. They outworked Macs in every aspect of the game.
Painted Down Low and On the Glass:
Trinity controlled the boards and the paint, winning the rebounding battle 30-19 and pounding Yeshiva 40-20 in the house. The Macs were also downed at the free-throw line, with Trinity going 17-of-19 compared to Yeshiva’s 9-17. That's an extra 10 points from the charity stripe, which hurts in a contest with little room for error.
If Yeshiva wants to compete at this level, it must clean up the turnovers, find its shooting touch, and get tougher on the boards. It was a rough afternoon, but there’s still much to learn moving forward.
For Yeshiva: (3-2)
Zevi Samet was held to a season-low 12 points, was 2-7 from three-point land, and shot 5-13 from the field.
Max Zakheim was limited to seven points and was 3-8 from field goal range.
For Trinity (CT) (6-0)
Henry Vetter poured in a game-high 19 points, and was crucial in defensively limiting Samet's outputs.
The Bantams outscored Yeshiva 36-13 off the bench
Up Next:
YU travels to NYU on December 12th, looking to get back on track.
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