Macs Win Second Consecutive Skyline Conference Championship; to Compete in NCAA DIII Tournament
On March 6., the Yeshiva University Maccabees will open the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament against Bates College in Montclair, N.J., after capturing their second straight Skyline Conference championship with a 79–72 win over Farmingdale State on March 1.
The Macs (20–8 overall, 16–0 Skyline), who were the #1 seed in the conference, began their Skyline playoff run in the quarterfinals on Feb. 25 when they defeated #8 SUNY Old Westbury, 91-52. Zevi Samet (YC ‘26) led the way with 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, and Yoav Oselka (YC '27) added 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Two days later, the Macs—hosting all three rounds at the Max Stern Athletic Center—advanced past #5 Purchase, 86–71, with 20 points and nine rebounds from Samet and another 18-point, nine-rebound performance from Oselka. Max Zakheim (SSSB ‘26) added 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks; Purchase was led by Trey Skeete’s 24 points.
Before the championship game’s opening tip, YU President Rabbi Ari Berman led the crowd in a prayer for the United States and Israel as the war with Iran heated up.
“We stand here [for] more than a game,” Berman said. “We stand here representing the values of the United States of America and the State of Israel. And certainly when our beloved countries are at war, we stand in prayer for our soldiers.”
The Macs took an early 6-0 lead over second-seeded Farmingdale State but were outscored for the remainder of the first half, going into halftime trailing 23-21. They surged after the break, outscoring Farmingdale 58–49 in the second half to secure the seven-point win. Samet scored 36 points while Yair Dovrat (YC '29) had 15 points and six assists. Zakheim finished with seven points, eight rebounds and five steals.
Macs coach Elliot Steinmetz told The Commentator that the championship win felt “great.”
“I love the opportunity to see this group of guys accomplish their goals,” he said. “They set out preseason to go undefeated in the league. It wasn’t always easy, but they are resilient and together.”
Steinmetz said that “leadership” was crucial to the team’s success this season.
“Max and Zevi did such a terrific job guiding the group,” he said. “Great teams are a reflection of their leadership and this team is exactly that.”
Zakheim, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, credited the win to the whole team.
“It feels great obviously to be recognized for Most Outstanding Player,” he told The Commentator. "But it’s really a team award … even guys that don’t play, they get a piece of that because they’re the ones that are pushing us in practice every single day, waking up at the crack of dawn and just locking in and making us better.”
“Playing with a guy like Zevi Samet opens up so much for me offensively,” Zakheim said. “And a guy like Yair Dovrat … opens up a tremendous amount with his ability to pass the ball and find me and my other teammates on cuts and on back-doors.”
“We’re a bunch of guys that came in after the realm of [Ryan] Turell and [Gabe] Leifer—and they had extreme success—and we came in ready to continue that and prove that YU isn’t just a great team; it’s a program that continues to replenish great players and wins year after year,” Zakheim said.
With the win, he said, the Macs have “really solidified YU as an elite, elite program, not just a team that was great for a couple of years.”
The victory clinched the Macs an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They are scheduled to face Bates in the first round at 1 p.m. at Montclair State University.
“Maturity and consistency” will be needed to make a successful NCAA tournament run, Steinmetz told The Commentator.
“It’s a battle we have fought for a few years with this group and they have peaked at the right time,” he said. “Hopefully they can continue this run.”
