NEWBURGH, N.Y. – After scoring just two points in the first half, freshman Joe Stabach (Staten Island, N.Y.) exploded for 24 points in the second half and overtime as Mount Saint Mary College defeated Yeshiva University, 80-76, in a Skyline Conference contest on Tuesday evening. The win was the fifth in a row for the Knights as they improved to 6-3 overall and to 4-1 in the Skyline. The Maccabees fell to 2-10 overall (2-6 Skyline).
Trailing by three late in the second half, Yeshiva junior David Schmelzer (Columbus, Ohio) knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 67. The Maccabees forced a turnover on the ensuing possession and then it was sophomore Gil Bash (Tel Aviv, Israel) who dribbled out of a double team to find sophomore Dovie Hoffman (Tarzana, Calif.) for a layup in the paint. Hoffman was also fouled on the play and extended the lead to three with the foul shot.
As the clock ticked toward the final thirty seconds, Stabach missed a fifteen-footer but Yeshiva's Bash was called for a loose ball foul on the rebound, giving the ball back to the Knights. Freshman Donte Howell (Baldwin, N.Y.) found Stabach in the corner on the inbounds play and the freshman drilled a three-pointer to tie the game at 70.
Yeshiva junior Omer Haim (Rishon LiZion, Israel) had a chance to win the game on the final possession of regulation, but Mount Saint Mary senior Tim Morris (Greenwich, N.Y.) drew a charge with one second on the clock to force overtime.
The teams traded free throws and buckets to open the extra five minutes. With the game tied at 74, Stabach found sophomore Lenny Ragaglia (Staten Island, N.Y.) who promptly drained a three-pointer from the wing to send the Knights to a three-point advantage. After Bash answered with a layup, Mount junior Carlos Valdez (Carolina, Puerto Rico) went one-of-two at the line. Yeshiva missed a jumper on their next possession and was forced to foul Stabach with 22 seconds to play after the Knights came up with an offensive rebound. Stabach made just one-of-two, however, keeping it a one-possession game.
With just 11 seconds remaining, Haim fired a three-pointer from twenty-five feet that bounced off the front rim and out of play. Stabach went to the line again, making one-of-two to put the game out of reach. Yeshiva was unable to get off a shot in the final seven seconds and the Knights held on for the win.
Stabach was lights out after a mediocre first half, connecting on 8-of-13 from the field (5-of-7 from three) for 24 points. The freshman finished with a game-high 26 points to go along with four assists and four steals. The Knights also received a strong performance from junior Kevin Milella (Floral Park, N.Y.) who tallied 17 points and six rebounds. Ragaglia drilled 5-of-6 attempts from three to finish with 15 points.
For Yeshiva, Hoffman led the way with 22 points. Junior Chen Biron (Tel Aviv, Israel) tallied 15 points on 4-of-5 from three, while Bash finished with 12 hard-earned points to go along with five assists. Sophomore Yoni Eckmann (Wynnewood, Pa.) also reached double figures with 11.
The Knights continued to shoot it well from behind the arc, making 11-of-20 attempts (55.0-percent). They shot 49.1-percent from the floor, while the Maccabees finished at 45.2-percent. Yeshiva was 7-of-13 from three (53.8-percent).
Mount Saint Mary reigned in their sloppy first half play, committing just three turnovers during the second half and overtime to finish the contest with 13. Yeshiva turned it over 20 times.
Up next for the surging Mount is a strong non-conference opponent in Keystone College. The Knights will travel to the Giants for a 3:00 p.m. start on Saturday, December 18.