PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team fell to Purchase College, 72-55, in the first round of the Skyline Conference Championships at Purchase College Gymnasium on Tuesday evening. The Maccabees 2016-17 season now comes to an end. Purchase will play at #1 Farmingdale State, in the Skyline semifinals, on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Yeshiva (15-10, 11-5 Skyline) dug itself into a deep hole early, as Purchase stormed out to a 20-3 advantage less than six minutes in. A three-pointer by senior guard Jordan Hod began a 10-0 run for Yeshiva to get back into the contest. Later in the half, freshman forward Daniel Katz and classmate Simcha Halpert combined for back-to-back layups to narrow the Panthers' (17-9, 10-6 Skyline) lead to 22-17, with 7:33 left until intermission.
Sophomore guard Judah Cohen converted a layup to pull Yeshiva to within two, at 29-27, at the 16:02 mark. Purchase responded by going on an 8-2 run to close out the half and put Yeshiva in a 37-29 disadvantage.
Down, 43-36, in the second stanza, Yeshiva stormed back by scoring seven unanswered points, capped off by a three-point field goal from Halpert, to tie the game with 11:32 remaining. The Panthers would turn the tables back into their favor by going on a 12-3 run in less than four minutes to regain a commanding lead.
Thanks to a technical foul by Yeshiva, Purchase drilled both free throws to go up by double-digits. A jump shot by senior forward Eli Mamann pulled Yeshiva to within single-digits, but Purchase countered with four unanswered points to increase their lead. The Maccabees were unable to get the game close again as the Panthers steadily increased their lead and won the Skyline playoff game, 72-55.
For the evening, Cohen scored a team-high 15 points with six rebounds, while forcing a game-high four steals and blocking one shot. Senior forward Michael Berg added 12 points with four rebounds and two assists, while Hod scored 10 points with three assists. Halpert produced eight points, drilled two shots from beyond the arc, and tied a career best with nine rebounds. Senior forward Dean Pienica produced four points and tied a team-high with three assists. Katz scored three points with just as many rebounds, Mamann produced two points, and sophomore forward Tal Gweta added a point with two assists. Classmate Michael Hayon grabbed four rebounds and dished out an assist.
Yeshiva University would like to thank graduating seniors Dean Pienica, Michael Berg, and Jordan Hod for all they have done for the men's basketball program and the University.