NEWBURGH, N.Y. - The Yeshiva University men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Mount Saint Mary College at the Kaplan Center on Thursday night, by a score of 74-69. The Macs now drop to 3-3 overall, and 2-1 in Skyline play, while the Knights excel to 1-3 overall with a 1-1 record in conference contests.

The first half featured 10 lead changes, with the Macs trailing by as many as eight. The half ended with a 41-36 score in the Knights' favor. Sophomore guard Simcha Halpert tallied 13 points at the half for Yeshiva.

After both teams traded baskets to begin the second half, the Knights led 49-42 with just under 17 minutes left to play. A basket by sophomore forward Bar Alluf would begin an 11-2 rally for the Macs, capped off by another score by the forward, to bring the score to 60-51 with Yeshiva in the lead. The Knights would follow with a run of their own, scoring the next eight points in the matchup, bringing the game to within one.

Layups courtesy of sophomore forward Kevin Bokor and Alluf would bring the Macs lead back to five. The Knights would respond by scoring seven straight points, giving them a two point lead with just under four minutes left to play. With 1:16 remaining in regulation time, Alluf was fouled and drained both free throws to tie the game. Gerard Nocera, of Mount Saint Mary, would respond with a 3-pointer, which began an 8-0 run for the Knigths that would put the game out of reach for Yeshiva.

For the game, Alluf finished with 21 points, grabbed four rebounds, forced two steals, and dished out an assist. Halpert dropped 20 points, brought down six rebounds, distributed five assists, forced four steals, and administered a block. Sophomore forward Daniel Katz scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds, had four assists and forced a steal. Junior guard Justin Hod scored seven points with four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Junior guard Tal Gweta added five points with three caroms, one assist, one steal, and one blocked shot. Sophomore guard Tyler Hod scored two points, distributed four assists, forced three steals, and brought down a board. Bokor scored two points and grabbed just as many rebounds.

The Maccabees will be back in action this Saturday night, when they face off with College of Mount Saint Vincent for a Skyline conference match in the Max Stern Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.