NEW YORK – The nationally ranked No. 20 Yeshiva University men's basketball team defeated College of Mount Saint Vincent in the semifinal round of the Skyline Conference Championships, 89-62, at Max Stern Athletic Center on Thursday evening. The Maccabees will now compete in their fourth straight Skyline Championship game.

No. 3-seed Yeshiva (24-3) will host fourth-seeded Manhattanville College for the league title and automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, at Max Stern Athletic Center, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Valiants earned an upset victory over the top-seeded Rams of Farmingdale State College, in the other league semifinal game, on Thursday evening.

"Always happy to be part of Championship Sunday," Yeshiva University Head Coach Elliot Steinmetz said. "I am happy with the way we are competing right now."

The Maccabees trailed the Dolphins (10-16), by a score of 20-18, almost hallway through the opening half. However, the Macs took the game over by scoring 12 straight points over the next 2:25 to take a commanding lead they would not surrender for the remainder of the contest.

YU shot 50.0% (33-for-66) from the field during the evening.

Senior Ryan Turell led all players with 34 points, while forcing a game-high five steals, grabbing four rebounds, and dishing out a pair of assists. The Los Angeles native went 12-for-17 from the field, including 6-for-8 from 3-point range. Graduate Gabriel Leifer tallied his fourth triple-double of the season with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Junior Ofek Reef netted 18 points, on 6-for-10 shooting, while snatching six rebounds and delivering three assists. Graduate student Jordan Armstrong had 13 points, eight rebounds, and a pair of assists coming off the bench.

The Maccabees got off to a slow start as a successful jump shot by senior Kelvin Turner-Harris gave the Dolphins the lead, 20-18. However, on the next possession, Leifer found Turell who buried a triple that not only gave Yeshiva the lead for good but sparked 12 straight points to give the home team a 30-20 benefit with 8:16 left to play in the half. After Mount Saint Vincent pulled to within eight, Turell countered with back-to-back 3-point baskets to inflate Yeshiva's hold to 36-22, with 4:03 to go in the period, much to the delight of the raucous Max Stern Athletic Center crowd. The Maccabees went into the intermission up 42-28.

Yeshiva inflated its lead during the majority of the second half, going up by as many as 34 points, on its way to clinching a berth in the Skyline Conference Championship game.

For the Maccabees, junior Matan Zucker had a solid game with five points, six rebounds, and three assists. Graduate student Ethan Lasko had a triple with three rebounds and a pair of assists. Senior Alon Jakubowitz had a dunk and three boards. Classmate Eitan Halpert had four points, two rebounds, and an assist.

For the Dolphins, junior Dan Porcic had a near double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Dillon Hod had a team-high 16 points and forced a pair of steals. Sophomore Elijah McKenzie scored 10 points and grabbed five boards.

Be sure to check out YUmacs.com, as well as our social media channels, for updates regarding tickets to this Sunday's Skyline Championship game at Max Stern Athletic Center.