NEW YORK – The Yeshiva University men's basketball team went on a big run in the second half on its way to an important come-from-behind Skyline victory over Maritime College, 81-70, at Max Stern Athletic Center on Wednesday evening.

The Macs' Second-Half Blitz: During the first half and early stages of the second period, there were seven ties and just as many lead changes. With 11:53 to go in regulation, senior guard Ryan Donovan converted on a layup attempt to give the Privateers (9-9, 5-4 Skyline) the advantage at 50-49 and the game was destined to go down to the wire. However, a layup by senior forward Matan Zucker began a 21-1 run by Yeshiva (10-8, 7-2 Skyline), in a span of 5:02 that gave the Maccabees a commanding 70-51 hold with 6:28 left to play. Maritime did manage to shrink its deficit to seven with 2:11 to go, but Yeshiva outscored the opposition, 9-5, the rest of the way to pick up the key league win.

"Great second half for us," Yeshiva University Head Coach Elliot Steinmetz said. "We adjusted our spacing offensively and I thought leadership and play from Matan was tremendous for us."

Impact on the Skyline Standings: Yeshiva now takes sole possession of first place in the Skyline South Division, a half game ahead of Farmingdale State College. YU remains tied with the United States Merchant Marine Academy for first place in the overall league standings. Maritime is still in playoff position as the Privateers are in third place in the Skyline North Division.

Big Performances for the Maccabees: Sophomore guard Max Zakheim scored a game-high 27 points with eight rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals. The Bergenfield native shot 6-for-9 from the field and converted 14 out of 15 free throw attempts. Zucker produced a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while dishing out five assists. Junior guard Oren Betesh tallied 12 points, including three triples, while grabbing five rebounds off the bench. Sophomore guard Zevi Samet netted 10 points, distributed three assists, and grabbed a pair of boards.

How it Happened: Yeshiva got off to a slow start as a traditional three-point play by freshman guard James O'Connell gave Maritime a 25-22 benefit with 8:32 left to play in the opening half. Yeshiva immediately responded as Samet found newcomer Effy Freundlich who drained a triple to tie the game. After the Privateers went back in front, by two, Samet delivered the ball to Freundlich again who connected on another shot from downtown to put the Blue and White in the lead, 28-27, with 6:47 remaining in the half. Later in the period, Betesh buried a shot from beyond the arc to give Yeshiva its largest benefit of the opening period, at 35-28, with 4:08 remaining.

Maritime countered with a 10-1 run that concluded with a successful jump shot by freshman guard Jovan Germain to give the Privateers a 38-36 advantage with 1:40 left before the break. After each team exchanged baskets, Yeshiva had the ball in the closing seconds. Betesh cashed in on a jump shot just as the time expired to send both teams into the intermission tied at 40 points apiece.

With YU down, 41-40, early in the second half, Samet capitalized on a 3-point attempt to put the home team in front, 43-41, less than a minute into the stanza. The Maccabees eventually inflated its vantage to five.

The Privateers chipped away and shrunk YU's advantage to one, and then Donovan's jumper gave his team the lead, 50-49, with 11:53 left to play in regulation time.

Yeshiva took the game over from that point on by scoring 21 of the contest's next 22 points over the course of the next 5:02 to take a commanding 70-51 hold. Freundlich, Zakheim, and Betesh each drained a triple during the game-changing run. Yeshiva's defense held Maritime to without a field goal for 6:32 during that stretch.

The Privateers pulled to within seven with 2:11 to go, but Yeshiva was able to hit key free throws late to pull away and secure the key Skyline victory.

YU's Production: Freundlich went 3-for-3 from deep and grabbed a pair of rebounds off the bench. Rookie forward Roy Itcovichi had a solid game with six points, five rebounds, and three assists. Freshman forward Dothan Bardichev scored four points, had just as many boards, dished out three assists, and forced a pair of steals.

For Maritime: Donovan generated 15 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Rookie guard Tyler Anderson provided 14 points, four assists, and two caroms.

Up Next: Yeshiva will battle Merchant Marine, in a battle for first place, at Liebertz Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Both teams are tied for first overall in the Skyline standings, and lead their respective divisions, at 7-2 in league play.