NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team earned a convincing victory over Skyline rival Mount Saint Mary College, 96-60, at the Max Stern Athletic Center on Thursday evening. The first-place Maccabees (18-5, 16-2 Skyline) now extend their program-record winning streak to 17 games. The Knights (13-10, 10-8 Skyline) currently hold the sixth and final playoff seed in the Skyline standings.

The magic number for Yeshiva to clinch the top spot in the upcoming Skyline Conference championships is down to one, with two games left to play.

The game was close throughout the first half, but in the early stages of the second stanza, Yeshiva scored 18 straight points to take a commanding 66-34 lead with 13:02 remaining in regulation time. The Maccabees' defense held the Knights scoreless for 5:18. Mount Saint Mary never recovered, as Yeshiva led by as many as 41 and went to earn the conference victory by a score of 96-60.

"Loved our defensive effort in the second half, which led to the run to pull away," Yeshiva University head coach Elliot Steinmetz said. "The focus this group has on the defensive side is special and hopefully can continue to carry us."

Junior guard Simcha Halpert led the way for the Maccabees with a game-high 22 points, shooting 9-14 from the field in the process. He now has 1,271 career points which ranks him 11^th on the program's all-time scoring list.

Junior forward Gabriel Leifer produced a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while dishing out three assists, blocking two shots, and forcing just as many steals. Freshman guard Ryan Turell netted 17 points, distributed four assists, and grabbed three rebounds. Junior forward Daniel Katz produced eight points, clutched five caroms, and blocked a pair of shots.

Yeshiva fell behind, 15-12, less than five minutes into the contest. A 3-point basket by Leifer sparked a 7-0 run to put the Maccabees in the lead for good, 19-15. After Mount Saint Mary pulled to within one, Yeshiva scored 11 unanswered points, capped off by Katz's layup, to give the home team a 30-18 hold with 7:12 left to play in the opening half. With 40 ticks left on the clock, Simcha Halpert nailed a jump shot to send Yeshiva into the intermission up 45-32.

After sophomore guard Jameson Morton converted a layup for the Knights, less than two minutes into the second stanza, Leifer converted layups to begin and cap off YU's 18-0 run to put the game out of reach for the visiting team. Later in the period, sophomore forward Caleb Milobsky's jump shot gave the Blue and White its largest lead of the game, 93-52, with 1:51 left to play. Yeshiva went on to win the Skyline contest, 96-60.

For the Maccabees, junior guard Tyler Hod scored seven points, grabbed five boards, and dished out three assists. Senior forward Tal Gweta also netted seven points, while clutching three rebounds, and distributing a pair of helpers.

Freshman guard Jeffrey Owen and Milobsky each scored six points, with the former grabbing four rebounds and distributing three assists. Senior forward Michael Hayon added three points with four rebounds and two steals, while junior forward Kevin Bokor had four caroms of his own with two points. Sophomore guard Eitan Halpert grabbed two rebounds, while second-year guard Sammy Mandel grabbed a board of his own. Senior guard Justin Hod hit a free throw.

For Mount Saint Mary, Morton produced 14 points, while junior guard Kendall Francis had 10 points and five caroms.

Yeshiva will host second-place Farmingdale State College, in a Skyline Conference showdown at the Max Stern Athletic Center, on Saturday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. If Yeshiva wins, the Maccabees will clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Skyline Conference championships.

It will also be senior night, as graduating seniors Hayon, Justin Hod, and Gweta will be honored with a ceremony prior to the start of the game.