NEW YORK, N.Y.—The 2014-15 home opener for the Yeshiva men's basketball team saw it all: an overflow crowd, lots of energy, intensity, a controversial buzzer beater and a game that lasted three overtimes. But it was the Maccabees who fell short in the end as Yeshiva was defeated by Connecticut College 96-87 after fifty-five minutes of basketball in front of a capacity crowd at the Max Stern Athletic Center Thursday night.
 
The loss was the first of the season for Yeshiva who is now 2-1, while Connecticut College improves its record to 2-1 on the young season.
 
The game saw 20 lead changes and 19 ties, and neither team led by more than double-figures until Connecticut College pulled away late.
 
Late in regulation, Yeshiva trailed 62-60 with the ball and the shot clock off. Benjy Ritholtz connected on a jumper with just under seven seconds left to tie the score and send the game into overtime.
 
In the first overtime, the visiting Camels led most of the way. Yeshiva took its first lead of the first overtime with 1:47 to go on a pair of free throws by Shelby Rosenberg to make the score 67-66. Connecticut went back up by a pair momentarily before a three pointer by Ritholtz with twenty-five seconds left put Yeshiva ahead, and the Maccabees were up 70-69. Then after Connecticut failed on its ensuing possession, Ritholtz was fouled and connected on 1-of-2 free throws to put Yeshiva ahead 71-69 with six seconds left.
 
But Connecticut College tied the game at the buzzer on a lay-up by Zuri Pavlin. Yeshiva tripled teamed the ball handler, Lee Messier, in the corner with no place to go. Messier though managed to get a pass of along the baseline to Pavlin who put home the game tying shot in one motion just before the horn. One official originally called the shot after the buzzer, but after an official's conference the shot counted.
 
In the second overtime, Yeshiva led most of the way and led by as much as four points three times. The Maccabees were ahead 80-76 with twenty seconds left after a lay-up by Rosenberg. On the ensuing possession, Connecticut's Colin Pascoe was fouled with fourteen seconds left and went to the free throw line. After making the first free throw, he missed the second, but the rebound fell out of bounds, last touched by Yeshiva, hence giving Connecticut the ball down three. Then with three seconds left, Pavlin was fouled attempting a three pointer. He connected on all three free throws, and suddenly the game was tied again. Yeshiva failed to get off a shot at the end of the second overtime, leading into a third one.
 
In the third overtime, the score was tied at 84 with 2:09 to go before the Camels went on a 10-0 spurt in under two minutes to put the game away.
 
Ritholtz led all scorers with 30 points, while grabbing eight rebounds. He added three blocks and two steals in the contest. Rosenberg had a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, along with four blocked shots. Jordan Hod had eight assists for the Maccabees.
 
Connecticut College was led by Isaiah Robinson with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Pavlin had a double-double of 14 points and 17 rebounds.
 
Yeshiva is back in action on Sunday for a contest at the City College of New York at 2 p.m.