HOBOKEN, N.J. – Senior guard Jack Yulzary scored eight of his 16 points in overtime to lead Yeshiva University to a 55-52 win over Stevens Institute of Technology on Monday night in a Skyline Conference men’s basketball game at the Canavan Arena.
Yulzary scored eight of Yeshiva’s 10 points in the extra session. With the Maccabees trailing 46-45, Yulzary scored on a driving layup with 3:30 left. He followed with two free throws at the 2:40 mark to give Yeshiva a 49-46 lead. Stevens twice pulled to within one point, but Yulzary answered with a layup each time. With the Maccabees clinging to a 51-50 lead, he stole a Stevens inbounds pass under the Yeshiva basket and scored with 29 seconds left to cut the lead to three.
Stevens cut the lead to 53-52 on two free throws by sophomore guard Adam Cirnigliaro (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) with 12.4 seconds left. The Ducks immediately fouled freshman guard Ian Ribald who made both free throws with 10.2 seconds left to push the Yeshiva lead back up to three. Stevens had a chance to tie, but a 3-pointer from the top of the key by freshman guard Garrick Todechine went off the back iron as time expired.
The Ducks had an opportunity to forge a lead early in overtime, but made just one of four free-throw attempts in the opening minute. For the game, Stevens shot 61.3 percent from the line, going 19-for-31.
Yeshiva seemingly had the game in hand as two free throws by freshman Harel Vatavu with 1:11 left gave the Maccabees a 43-36 lead. Stevens used a furious last-minute rally as it forced four turnovers and went 7-for-8 at the free throw line in the final minute. Sophomore guard Ryan Kander (Belle Harbor, N.Y./Xaverian) scored on a short jumper with 58 seconds left to cut the lead to five. Sophomore guard Jimmy Dominkewicz (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) and sophomore forward Michael Collins (Bronx, N.Y./Trinity Pawling) made two free throws each to cut the lead to 43-42. After Yulzary made two free throws with 31 seconds left to put Yeshiva up by three, Kander was fouled with 23 seconds left and sank a pair of free throws, pulling the Ducks to within one. Collins then came up with a steal and was fouled with 16 seconds left. He made the second of two free throws to tie the game at 45-45 and force overtime.
Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half as Stevens held a 22-15 lead at the break. The Ducks were just 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) in the opening period while the Maccabees made just five of 21 shots (23.8 percent).
Dominkewicz scored a game-high 25 points to lead all scorers. He has averaged 27.1 points per game over the last seven games. Collins added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Stevens, which had its four-game winning streak snapped, concludes the regular season at 7-18 overall and 6-9 in Skyline play. The Ducks open play in the Skyline Tournament on Monday at a site to be determined.
