Yeshiva Defeats Caltech for First Win of the Season

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PASADENA, Calif. – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team earned a bounce-back victory on Sunday afternoon, defeating California Institute of Technology by a score of 77-58, at Braun Gymnasium. Yeshiva goes 1-1 during the season-opening California road trip, while Caltech begins the year 0-1.

Leading the way for Yeshiva was California native Ryan Turell, as the sophomore guard produced a game-high 36 points, recorded three assists and just as many steals, and went 13-for-18 from the field. Third-year forward Gabriel Leifer produced seven points, dished out a team-high six assists, grabbed five rebounds, and blocked a pair of shots. Senior guard Simcha Halpert added 17 points. Classmate Bar Alluf went 7-for-7 from the charity stripe, while dishing out four assists and forcing two steals.

The Maccabees never trailed in the contest, as their defense forced the Beavers to commit 18 turnovers. Yeshiva's field goal shooting drastically improved from its season-opening loss, as the Macs shot 49.1% from the floor.

Less than two minutes into the game, Halpert nailed a jump shot to give the Maccabees the lead for good (7-5). After Leifer converted a layup, he forced a steal on the next possession and laid it up and in off a fast break to extend the YU's lead to 13-5 with 16:52 remaining in the half.

Yeshiva steadily increased its hold as Turell's slam dunk gave the Maccabees their largest lead of the half, 35-15, with 4:11 until the intermission.

After Caltech narrowed the deficit to 12, Turell disrupted the opposition's momentum by drilling a jump shot while being fouled. He hit the free throw to complete his second traditional three-point play of the game and extend the Blue and White's lead to 40-25 with 1:25 left in the period. The Beavers scored the last four points of the half to pull to within 11, 40-29, at the break.

Caltech's momentum carried into the second half, as the home team managed to pull to within three, at 45-42. Turell was able to stop the opposition's momentum by draining a timely 3-point field goal to put the Maccabees back up by six, at 48-42, with 15:48 left to play in the second half. That began a 14-3 run by Yeshiva, highlighted by 3-point field goals from Leifer and Halpert, as well as a dunk by Turell, to give the the Macs a 59-45 advantage with 12:17 remaining in regulation time.

The Beavers could not generate a consistent run to get back into the game, as YU pulled way to earn its first win of the season, 77-58.

For the Maccabees, freshman guard Ofek Reef tallied six points with three rebounds, while senior forward Kevin Bokor tallied two points and brought down three boards. Sophomore guard Jeffrey Owen grabbed three caroms of his own.

Junior forward Marcus Gee led the way for the Beavers with a team-high 20 points, while adding seven rebounds and forcing six steals. Sophomore guard Stephen Hei added 18 points off the bench.

Yeshiva will have another road trip next weekend, that begins on Saturday evening, at Salisbury University. Tip-off at the Maggs Physical Activities Center is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.