Behind a dazzling 21-point first-half explosion from Skyline Player of the Year Zevi Samet, clutch free throws from Max Zakheim with 0.2 seconds remaining, and a relentless effort from a team that refused to blink when the pressure peaked, Yeshiva stunned Bates 71–69 Friday afternoon in the NCAA Tournament First Round.
For the Macs, the win is historic. It marks just the third NCAA Tournament victory in program history and the first since the magical 2020 run to the Sweet 16.
Yet this one had a different feel. This wasn’t a Cinderella story catching lightning in a bottle. This was a senior core that promised a “One Last Ride” stepping into the national spotlight and proving they belonged there.
And it happened in front of a roaring pro-Macs crowd that made the Montclair State gym feel more like Washington Heights than neutral-site New Jersey.
