Zevi Samet was getting pressed at half court but moved from left to right anyways, and despite being double-teamed, swished a trey, sending Macs fans, many of whom were alumni, into a frenzy. That shot was part of what was 18 straight points from Yeshiva’s savior. His spark infused hope in the gym that a miraculous comeback was in the making. Somehow, someway, these shorthanded Macs would find a way to shake the Skyline Conference world and knock off top seed Farmingdale State. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, as the Rams pulled away late and came out on top 76-57. The victory kept them undefeated in conference play, locking up the one seed. If Yeshivah still has an NCAA tournament berth in their sights, the road must go through Farmingdale.
The Macs fell short in their rivalry clash with Farmingdale 76-57 on Saturday night (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
How It Happened:
- The game started with Yeshiva matching Farmingdale's hot offense punch for punch in the first half.
- The blue and white team came out strong, grabbing an 11-5 lead in the first six minutes of play, and setting the tempo.
- But despite their early momentum, Yeshiva, missing their second and third top scorers, struggled to keep up with the Rams.
- With about 9:22 left in the half, Farmingdale snatched the lead for good, leaving Yeshiva trailing 17-16.
- From there, the Rams kept rolling, gradually extending their lead and forcing Yeshiva into a double-digit deficit.
- By halftime, the Macs found themselves down by a sizable margin, with the scoreboard reading 39-23.
- The second half didn't start any easier for Yeshiva, as their deficit continued to grow, reaching the twenties at one point.
- Despite the tough situation, the Macs didn't back down. Behind a stellar performance from Zevi Samet, who scored 14 points in just over five minutes, they managed to close the gap to eight points with about 8:45 left in the game, giving hope to the home crowd.
- But despite Samet's heroic efforts, Farmingdale quickly regained control of the game, leaving Yeshiva with no chance to mount a comeback.
- When the final buzzer sounded, it was Yeshiva's second straight conference loss, with Farmingdale securing the win with a final score of 76-57. Tough break for the Macs, but they certainly didn't go down without a fight.
Shooting Woes:
The Macs just couldn't find their groove on offense, shooting a paltry 32.2% from the field compared to Farmingdale State's impressive 44.1%. It was like trying to sink a basket with one hand tied behind their backs – tough and frustrating.
Paint Domination:
Farmingdale took control of the paint, outscoring Yeshiva a whopping 46-16 in points down low. It was like the Macs were playing catch-up in a game of giants – no matter how hard they tried, they just couldn't keep up with Farmingdale's inside presence.
Turnover Turmoil:
Ball security was a major headache for the Macs, as they coughed up the rock a staggering 20 times compared to Farmingdale's 14. Those turnovers were like handing free points to the opposition on a silver platter – and Farmingdale gladly took advantage, racking up 22 points off turnovers.
In the end, Yeshiva's struggles with shooting, their inability to hold their ground in the paint, and their turnover troubles proved to be their undoing against Farmingdale State.
For Yeshiva:
- Zevi Samet, had an electrifying 34-point performance with seven rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal to the game.
The Monsey native, fresh off being honored for reaching the Macs 1,000-point club, nearly willed his team back from a 22-point deficit with 18 straight points.
-Dothan Bardichev added six points and grabbed 10 boards.
-Yoav Oselka had 8 points
For Farmingalde State:
-Nick Hurowitz starred for Farmingdale with 22 points and 10 rebounds
-Corey Powell had 17 points and 7 rebounds
- Micheal Notias had nine points off the
bench
Up Next:
Yeshiva travels to Sarah Lawrence College on Wednesday, February 7th for a tilt against the Gryphons. Tip-off is at 7:00 PM.
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