ROCHESTER, N.Y. – With four starters hitting double figures and steady ballhandling, eighth-ranked Yeshiva University defeated the University of Rochester, 70-63, in a men's basketball game played at the downtown Blue Cross Arena.
 
The Maccabees ran their record to 3-0. This was Rochester's season opener (0-1).
 
Eitan Halpert led Yeshiva with 17 points. Ryan Turell scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds, handed out seven assists, and made three steals. Gabirel Leifer scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds – all off the defensive glass. Matan Zucker had 12 points, nine boards (six offensive) and three steals before fouling  out late.
 
Ryan Algier scored a game-high 20 points for Rochester. He added nine rebounds. He was joined in the double-figure scoring column by Brian Amabilino Perez with 12 points and Kailan Lee who scored 11. Trent Noordsij had six points and seven rebounds.
 
Two of the biggest baskets for the visitors came from Samuel Merkin. He hit a pair of 3-point goals, one from each corner, 62 seconds apart to rally the Maccabees. His first trey came just 11 seconds after Algier made a pair of free throws to put UR back in front, 54-53, with 3:01 left. Lee made the second of two free throws to draw Rochester within 56-55 with 2:40 left.
 
After the teams traded baskets, Merkin slid along the baseline and popped up in the right corner where he collected Zucker's pass and calmly buried what turned out to be the key basket. The 3-pointer gave Yeshiva a 61-57 lead. Leifer followed with a jumper (63-57) and Yeshiva sank seven of eight from the foul line to ensure the victory.
 
In the first half, Yeshiva built an eight-point edge, 13-5, on an 11-0 run. Five players scored in the burst. Zucker had four points. Rochester's answer was a 12-2 sprint triggered by a 3-pointer from Noordsij and four points by Algier. It put Rochester ahead, 17-15. It stayed close after that. Ross Gang made two free throws in the last second of the opening half to tie the score at 26-26.
 
The score was tied 12 times and the lead switched hands 15 times.
 
Stat Highlights: Yeshiva shot 41% from the floor (25-61) and 35% outside the arc (6-17). Rochester made 22 of 56 from the floor (39%), 4-18 from long range (22%)… Yeshiva held a slim 40-38 edge on the glass and turned 10 offensive rebounds into 11 second chance points. Rochester had six offensive rebounds and scored 10 points.