Taking home their first conference title since 2021, the Yeshiva Men's Basketball Team cemented themselves as Skyline Champions with a win over Farmingdale State College, taking down the Rams by a score of 81-78 on Sunday, Mar. 2nd.
The Maccabees were captained by Zevi Samet (6'2''-G), as the Conference Player of the Year shouldered the offensive load with 37 points, proving the go-to man to hoist the ludicrous off-balance shot that gave YU not only the lead, but the win in the game's closing seconds. For his heroics in this game and throughout the tournament, the junior was named MVP of the Skylince Conference Tournament by commissioner Melissa Reilly.
Three other Maccabees also proved their skill shooting the ball, with Max Zakheim (6'0''-PG) (13), Roy Itcovichi (6'5''-G) (10) and OR Sundjyvsky (6'5''-G/F) (10) all scoring in double digits.
On top of his attacking prowess, Sundjyvsky thrived on the defensive side, completing the other half of his double-double while patrolling the paint with 10 rebounds, two blocks and one steal on the night.
With the win, the Maccabees close out Skyline play with a record of 18-10.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The two squads proved inseparable through the first nine minutes of play, seeing the score tied four different times before finally settling at 18-all with 11:39 remaining on the clock. While Farmingdale would manage to secure some breathing room in the following possessions, going up by as many as eight points at 26-18, the Maccabees refused to be left behind, fighting back and closing within one at 36-35 with just over three minutes left in the half.
However, the Yeshiva push would falter, allowing the Rams to gain real distance in the final minutes of the period. By the time the horn sounded, the Macs trailed, 49-35.
Farmingdale's lead held firm through the first five minutes of the half, stretching out as far as 16 points at 60-44 with 14:51 left in regulation. The dismayed YU faithful could only look on, seemingly resigned to witness a repeat performance of last year's conference final's loss, in which the Rams had bested Yeshiva by nearly 20 points at 87-68.
But the Maccabees were tired. Tired of Farmingdale's success, tired of the Ram's seemingly constant triumphs, tired of being overshadowed by their rival to the east. The men in blue and white were tired of playing second fiddle, of riding the bench. They were ready for their spotlight.
Two quick layups cut the Maccabee deficit to 12, forcing a Farmingdale timeout and a pair of subs. Free throws from Samet continued to hack away, lowering it to 10, and while a Ram bucket quickly answered, a fast break layup from Effy Freundlich (6'3''-G) off a rainbow pass from big-man Dothan Bardichev (6'6''-F) maintained Yeshiva's momentum. Taking full advantage, Samet proceeded to capitalize on a FSC turnover, draining an absolute dagger of a three to slice Farmingdale's margin back down into single digits for the first time in over nine minutes of game time, seeing the clock read 62-55 with 12:12 remaining.
Proving why they boasted home court advantage as the number one seed, the Rams responded, fighting to drag their lead back into double digits with a trio of hard-won paint layups. However, the Maccabees could and would not be sated. Having tasted mutton, they wanted to cook.
Sawing away at their deficit with a nearly religious fervor, Yeshiva continued to hoist shots, scratching and clawing as Farmingdale's lead shrank down to eight points, then seven, then six. With three minutes exactly frozen on the jumbotron, Samet nailed three straight foul shots, further ticking away the gap between the two squads to three.
Then, in a game that had up until this point been defined by offensive production, the unthinkable happened - a scoring drought. For two and a half minutes, neither team could coax the basketball to bounce their way, as the scoreline remained locked at 77-74. Samet finally put the arena out of its agony, nailing a jumper to close Yeshiva within one at 77-76. Out of a timeout, the Rams drew a foul and drained one of two free throws, pushing that gap out to two.
A shot who's visage will hang in the halls of the Max Stern Athletic Center for as long as there is a Maccabee to don a jersey and dribble a ball. Off the made foul shot, Samet called his own number, kicking off a series of events that is best summed up by broadcast announcer Ray Mertel. "Here we go, in, across the timeline, 20 seconds. Fall away three - FOR THE LEAD, FOR THE LEAD. TIME OUT FARMINGDALE. OH MY GOODNESS. Zevi Samet WITH A FALL AWAY THREE TO TAKE THE LEAD WITH 15 SECONDS TO GO."
Absolutely blanketed by a defender, Samet had taken the ball all the way up court, passed on a cutting Freundlich, and put faith in his own hands, perfectly executing a fall-away jump shot from just beyond the arc that tasted nothing but net, a situation the star guard later admitted he had practiced exactly for just such an occasion.
And there the lead would stay. A missed Ram jumper with four seconds left necessitated a desperation foul, which set up two charity-stripe shots from Sundjyvsky that iced the game. Farmingdale's last gasp was intercepted by Freundlich, as the Maccabee bench and bleachers cleared out onto the court. Yeshiva University was Skyline Conference Champions. Final score, 81-78.

MAC LEADERS
Points: Samet (37), Zakheim (13), Itcovichi (10), Sundjyvsky (10)
Assists: Cronin (6), Samet (4), Bardichev (3)
Rebounds: Sundjyvsky (10), Cronin (6), Freundlich (4)
Steals: Bardichev (4), Freundlich (3), Zakheim (2)
Blocks: Sundjyvsky (2), Oselka (2), Bardichev (1), Zakheim (1), Cronin (1)

Skyline Final:
Farmingdale State - Yeshiva 78-81

Skyline Semifinals:
Farmingdale State - Maritime 92-43
Sarah Lawrence - Yeshiva 69-72

Skyline Quarterfinals:
Farmingdale State - Merchant Marine 87-64
Maritime - St. Joseph's-Long Island 80-58
Sarah Lawrence - Mount Saint Vincent 79-68
Yeshiva - Purchase 88-59

Courtesy of yumacs.com