NEW YORK – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team earned a convincing Skyline Conference victory over SUNY Old Westbury (2-16, 2-9 Skyline), 90-63, at Max Stern Athletic Center on Saturday evening. Thanks to the win, Yeshiva (12-9, 9-3 Skyline) clinches a berth in the Skyline Conference Championships for the eighth season in a row and moves into a three-way tie with Farmingdale State College (14-7, 9-3 Skyline) and the United States Merchant Marine Academy (11-10, 9-3 Skyline) for first place in the overall standings.
"Happy to be back in the playoffs," Yeshiva University Head Coach Elliot Steinmetz said. "Loved our team-first effort tonight."
Junior guard Oren Betesh erupted for 30 points, including eight three-pointers out of nine attempts, in his first career start. The Jamaica resident shot 11-for-13 overall, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out a pair of assists.
At the same time, sophomore guard Max Zakheim added 18 points, three assists, and two rebounds. Classmate Zevi Samet poured in 13 points, snatched three rebounds, and provided just as many assists.
After the teams traded early buckets, a 3-pointer by rookie forward Roy Itcovichi kickstarted a 31-16 spurt for the Macs, led by 18 from Betesh, giving Yeshiva a 42-27 lead at halftime.
With his cheering section in attendance, Betesh canned four more threes in the second half to eclipse the 30-point plateau and received a standing ovation as he checked out for good later in the contest.
Meanwhile, Samet and Zakheim helped stretch the lead with their downtown prowess before first-year guard Effy Freundlich dazzled the crowd with a career-high five steals, and had eight points with three assists to go along with it.
With YU up big, rookie guard Ari Shklyar checked into the game and he responded by knocking down a three-pointer in the closing seconds, making it 90-60 and putting a bow on the league victory.
Stat So?: Yeshiva made 13 of 26 three-pointers, accumulating 39 of their 90 points while limiting the Panthers to 11 attempts, where only four swished through the net.
Itcovichi finished the game with nine points, five rebounds, and just as many assists. Senior guard Matan Zucker generated seven points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Up Next: The Maccabees look to keep pace by going down to Long Island and taking on St. Joseph's University Long Island (10-10, 7-5 Skyline) on Wednesday, February 8, at 6:00 PM ET.