THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team earned a key Skyline Conference victory over Maritime College, 91-83, at Riesenberg Hall Gym on Thursday evening. With the win, Yeshiva advances to 5-6 in conference play (7-9 overall), while Maritime drops to 5-9 in the Skyline (8-10 overall).

"Tough road win," Yeshiva University head coach Elliot Steinmetz said. "Good resiliency by our guys to bounce back and close out an important conference win."

As a team, the Maccabees converted 15 3-point field goals, and shot 55.6 percent from beyond the arc. Yeshiva outrebounded Maritime, 31-25.

Sophomore guard Simcha Halpert tied a game-high with 27 points, shooting 8-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-8 from 3-point range. Classmate Bar Alluf added 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field and went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. He also distributed a team-high four assists. Sophomore forward Gabriel Leifer produced his first double-double of his collegiate basketball career with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while forcing three steals. Senior forward Eli Mamann drained four 3-point shots, to score 12 points total, in just his second game of the season.

Both teams traded leads during the first five minutes of the contest. With Maritime holding a 14-12 advantage, Mamann hit back-to-back 3-point field goals to give YU the lead, 18-14. That would begin a 19-2 run for the Maccabees, in a span of 6:13, giving YU a commanding 31-16 advantage. After Maritime pulled to within 12, Halpert converted a shot from beyond the arc to regain Yeshiva's 15-point lead, at 39-24, with 5:27 remaining in the half. 1:30 later, Halpert drilled another 3-point basket to give Yeshiva its largest lead of the evening, 44-26.

The Privateers shifted momentum into their favor by scoring five unanswered points, capped off by a 3-point shot from Brendan McGovern, to pull the home team to within 13, at 44-31. Later in the half, Maritime got closer as Patrick McDonald successfully laid the ball up and in, while being fouled. He drilled a free throw to complete the traditional three-point play, and narrow Yeshiva's advantage to 47-36, with 1:17 remaining in the period.

With five seconds remaining, McGovern drew a foul, while attempting to shoot a 3-pointer. He converted all three opportunities from the charity stripe to pull Maritime to within eight, at 49-41. That would be the score at the intermission.

In the opening stages of the second half, the Privateers pulled to within six, at 51-45. Sophomore forward Daniel Katzinterrupted Maritime's momentum by converting a 3-pointer to put Yeshiva back up by nine. Later in the second half, Yeshiva went back up by double-digits, thanks to a layup by Leifer, to make it 60-49. A couple of offensive possessions later, Mamann hit a timely 3-point basket to extend YU's lead to 63-49, with 13:39 remaining in regulation time.

Once again, the Privateers would rally and cut Yeshiva's lead to seven. Sophomore guard Tyler Hod answered with a 3-point field goal to increase YU's lead to 68-58, with 10:21 to go. After Mamann hit yet another 3-point field goal to put his team back up by 11, Maritime scored seven unanswered points to shrink the Macs' lead to 71-67, with 7:40 still to be played in the second half. Halpert was able to help Yeshiva regain momentum by hitting a pair of timely free throws to give the Maccabees more breathing room.

After Maritime pulled to within four and got the ball back, McGovern successfully nailed a 3-pointer while being fouled. He added the free throw to complete a four-point play and tie the game, 73-73, with 6:33 remaining. Leifer and Alluf combined for back-to-back layups to help Yeshiva regain the lead, 77-73, with 5:36 remaining. After the Privateers cut the deficit to one, Alluf converted another layup to increase Yeshiva's lead.

With 2:19 remaining, and Yeshiva hanging on to a three-point lead, Halpert successfully executed a key shot from beyond the arc to extend the Maccabees' lead to six, at 82-76. After both teams traded baskets, Maritime had the ball, down 84-78. Leifer forced a steal and fed the ball to Alluf, who was fouled. He drained both shots from the charity stripe to extend the Macs' lead to eight with 45 seconds remaining. Maritime could not sustain another run as Yeshiva hit key free throws down the stretch to clinch the Skyline road win.

For Maritime, McGovern scored 27 points, while McDonald added 19 points with nine rebounds. John Liccese produced 15 points, while Michael Walker added 13.

For the Maccabees, Katz scored five points with three assists. Tyler Hod also scored five points, while grabbing three rebounds, and distributing two assists. Junior guard Justin Hod nailed a 3-point shot, while sophomore forward Kevin Bokor scored two points, with three rebounds, and two assists.

Yeshiva will be back in action on Sunday, for a Skyline game at St. Joseph's Long Island. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.