BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team earned a hard-fought victory over Moravian College, 85-78, at Johnston Hall on Thursday evening. Yeshiva extends its winning streak to 12 games since dropping the season opener and advances its record to 12-1.

History was made as senior guard Simcha Halpert's 3-point field goal 15:19 into the game propelled him past Lior Hod ('88) for third place on YU's All-Time Scoring List. The Los Angeles native netted 22 points during the game and now has 1,560 points so far in his illustrious career.

Sophomore guard Ryan Turell had a big game as he led all players with 31 points, while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out four assists. Senior forward Gabriel Leifer tallied a double-double with 14 points and a career-best 21 rebounds, while distributing eight assists and blocking three shots.

The Maccabees trailed during most of the opening half. With Moravian (5-4) up, 28-24, Halpert converted his historic 3-point field goal to pull his team to within one, with 4:41 left to play in the opening half. Later in the period, rookie guard Ofek Reef converted a layup to give Yeshiva the lead, 31-30, after trailing by as many as five.

With the game even at 35 points apiece, Turell converted a layup to put YU back up by two, with 23 ticks left on the clock. On the next possession, junior guard Keith Otto attempted a layup in the closing seconds of the half but was blocked by Turell. Reef grabbed the rebound and threw it to Halpert, who drilled a 3-point shot at the buzzer from half court. That gave the Maccabees a 40-35 advantage at the intermission.

The Greyhounds opened the second half with an 8-0 run to jump out to a 43-40 advantage. Turell countered with six straight points of his own to put the Maccabees back up, 46-40. Later in the stanza, a successful jump shot by freshman guard Greg Eck capped off a 6-0 run by Moravian to put YU in a 56-53 hole, with 11:34 remaining in regulation time. After each team exchanged baskets, Halpert executed a shot from downtown to even the game at 58 points apiece.

With Yeshiva down 65-63, a combination of Turell's layup and Halpert's 3-point field goal catapulted the Maccabees back in front, 68-65, with 6:46 left to play. That began a 10-2 run that was capped off by a layup from Halpert to give Yeshiva its largest lead of the game, at 75-67, with 5:19 to go.

The Greyhounds would not go down without a fight, as the home team scored eight unanswered points to pull to within two with 2:37 left in regulation. After each team went two possessions without a score, Lefer found Turell, who converted a layup, to increase Yeshiva's hold to four with 1:19 remaining. However, Barnes answered with a 3-point field goal to narrow Yeshiva's advantage to one, with 59 ticks left on the clock.

Reef tried to extend Yeshiva's lead with a 3-point shot but missed. Leifer grabbed the offensive rebound and tipped the ball into the basket to increase Yeshiva's advantage to 79-76 with 45 seconds left. After Yeshiva held Moravian scoreless on the next possession, Halpert was fouled intentionally with 27 seconds left in the second half. He drained two timely shots from the charity stripe to make it a two-possession game, at 81-76.

Thanks to strong free throw shooting during the final minute, Yeshiva clinched its 12^th consecutive victory by a score of 85-78 and end the 2019 calendar year on a high note.

For the Maccabees, Reef tallied 15 points with three rebounds. Senior guard Bar Alluf grabbed four boards and netted two points. Junior forward Caleb Milobsky clutched three caroms and scored two points, while senior forward Daniel Katz grabbed a rebound.

Six Moravian players scored in double-figures, including 15 points from junior guard Matt O'Connor, who also dished out five assists and grabbed just as many rebounds.

Yeshiva will take a break and be back in action on Wednesday, January 22, for a Skyline matchup at Maritime College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.