NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team earned a convincing non-conference victory over Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham, 65-49, at the Ferguson Recreation Center on Monday evening. The Maccabees now enter the three-week break with an overall record of 8-5.

Freshman guard Simcha Halpert led all players with 20 points, including five three-point baskets, while grabbing six rebounds and forcing two steals. Senior forward Dean Pienica just missed a double-double, with 13 points and nine rebounds.

After Yeshiva fell behind early, 9-5, the Maccabees completely turned the game into their favor by scoring 14 unanswered points, highlighted by three-point baskets from Halpert and sophomore guard Judah Cohen, to give the visiting team a commanding 19-9 advantage with 10:40 left in the opening half. The Devils (3-7) were able to get back into the game by cutting YU's lead to five, at 21-16, with 4:43 remaining.

The Blue and White regained momentum as a shot from beyond the arc by freshman forward Daniel Katz increased the advantage to 26-18. With less than a minute left in the opening period, a three-pointer by Halpert extended Yeshiva's lead to 31-20 and that would be the score at the end of the half.

Halpert began the second stanza just as the first ended, with a successful shot from downtown, to put Yeshiva up by 14. FDU-Florham never pulled to within single-digits for the remainder of the game, as Yeshiva led by as many as 22, a lead the Maccabees had on three different occasions. YU went on to win the non-conference contest, 65-49.

For the game, Yeshiva had the slight edge in rebounds, 40-39. Cohen scored seven points with four rebounds and three steals. Senior forward Michael Berg produced just as many points, with five rebounds, one block, and one assist. Senior guard Jordan Hod dished out a game-high six assists with three points.

Katz added seven points with three rebounds, while sophomore forward Michael Hayon scored two points, brought down four boards, and blocked a game-high two shots. Freshman forward Bar Alluf and sophomore guard Justin Hod each scored two points, while classmate Tal Gweta produced a point with one steal, and sophomore guard Ariel Sokol added one point with two rebounds.

The Maccabees will take the next three weeks off, but will return to the Max Stern Athletic Center on Monday, January 23, for a key Skyline Conference contest against Farmingdale State, beginning at 7:00 p.m.