YU Able to Fend Off Strong Purchase Performance, Putting The Macs Back In The Win Column

Washington Heights, NY - Amidst YU intercession, the Macs continue to get it done in the Skyline Conference. After tonight's contest the Macs are now 6-0 with a +87 point differential against Skyline teams, compared to a discouraging 1-8 record with a -95 point differential against non-conference opponents. 

Although last night’s game against Purchase was closer than we anticipated, as YU blew them out by 25 in early December, there were a lot of positive takeaways for the Macs. Early in the season, the Macs struggled to close out winnable games. The birthday boy Max Zakheim emphasized this point postgame as he said that “One of the issues with our team is that we often don’t play all forty minutes”. While the Macs exhibited plenty of sloppy play throughout the game, they were able to lock in on offense and lock up on defense when the contest came down to the wire.  

The Macs made the right plays down the stretch and defeated the Purchase Panthers 79-72 keeping their perfect Skyline record intact. (Yeshiva Athletics)

How it happened:

• The offense was humming to start the game. It looked like the early 2000’s Spurs. Four backdoor layups (one by Samet and three by Zakheim), and a thunderous baseline jam by Roy put the Macs up 11-5 2:57 into the game. 

• They kept their foot on the gas extending the lead to 10 at 17-7 with 13:00 to go in the first half. 

• Desmond Ward hit a deep catch-and-shoot three at the top of the key to tie the game at 25 (one of nine ties on the night), capping off an 18-8 Panthers run over roughly seven minutes of gametime.  

• Ward continued to exploit the Macs’ weak perimeter defense, adding in a few more threes.

• After being down two at half, Purchase came out with a full head of steam recapturing the lead after a Ricky Rollins three, 41-38.

• Maurice Western scored a reverse layup on the left side to put the Panthers up 55-46 with 12:37 to go. 

• Samet tied the game at 55 with a three-pointer assisted by Zakheim with 9:30 to go in the second half. This was Zevi’s first of four threes on the night. 

• Rollins threw down an alley-oop slam to retake the lead for the Panthers 59-58.

• Bardichev came into the game and hit a clutch three to put YU ahead 70-67 with 1:42 to go.

• Purchase tied it up, but Samet channeled his clutch tendencies hitting a three off of a stutter step to put the Macs ahead by three with 40 seconds left. From there the Macs were able to knock down their free-throws and secure the win. 

The good:

• Max Zakheim was very assertive taking the ball to the hoop, and was perfect 11/11 from the line. He finished with twenty points and didn’t turn the ball over once. How about that for a birthday performance! If Zakheim can continue to make big contributions on offense, it will add another dimension to this team.

• While the Macs allowed Ricky Rollins and Desmond Ward to hit 4 three pointers each throughout the course of the night, they did an excellent job defending the three point line in the second half limiting Purchase to two makes from downtown in the second half. Purchase shot 44% from deep in the first half, but were held 13% in the second half. 

• High level production from the Israelis. 

  • Dovrat distributed the ball well, as he had 6 assists.

  • Roy had 10 points.

  • Oselka looked comfortable taking the ball to the hoop from the wing, and even added in a rim-grazing dunk. 

  • Bardichev hit two threes including a huge one down the stretch. 

The Bad:

• 13 Turnovers. In order to be a great team, the Macs need to find a long-term solution to their turnover problem. The Wesleyan team that YU lost to on Monday didn’t turn the ball over once in the second half of their game and only committed 4 turnovers in the first half. Maybe that explains why Wesleyan was +20 in the second half, and why they made the final four in the NCAA March Madness Tournament a season ago. 

• Giving away extra possessions:

  • YU allowed the Panthers to secure 12 offensive rebounds compared to the Macs four.

• Laxadaisical defense at times. Historically, the Macs have excelled at off-ball movement on offense leading to open layups and shots. Last night, Purchase gave the Macs a taste of their own medicine as they exposed YU’s weak off-ball interior defense.  

Up Next:

The Macs’ next game will be Saturday night against St. Joseph’s Brooklyn as interdivision play begins. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 at the MSAC.