Yeshiva University eliminated from NCAA Division III men’s basketball tourney

The Maccabees, who were making their first appearance in the national tournament, finish their season with a record of 18-11

By JTA 3 March 2018, 1:01 am 1

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Gabriel Leiter of Yeshiva University drives on a Purchase College defender in the Skyline Conference championship game, February 25, 2018. (Courtesy of Yeshiva University via JTA)

Yeshiva University was eliminated from the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament with an 81-67 opening-round loss to host York College of Pennsylvania.

The Maccabees, who were making their first appearance in the national tournament, finished their season with a record of 18-11.

Gabriel Leifer, a 6-5 forward from Lawrence, New York, led Yeshiva with 18 points. Daniel Katz and Simcha Halpert had 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Tyler Hod contributed 8 points and 9 rebounds.

Yeshiva, a strong three-point shooting squad, missed 26 of its 32 shots from beyond the arc.

York, now 24-4, advanced to play the winner of Friday’s Nazareth-Hamilton matchup on Saturday night.

Matt Scamuffo powered the Spartans, champions of the Capital Athletic Conference, with 24 points.

York led 46-34 at halftime after holding a 19-point advantage at one point.

On Sunday, Y.U. defeated Purchase College, 87-81, in Purchase, New York, to win the Skyline Conference championship and the automatic berth in the national event.

Division III member institutions do not offer scholarships to their student-athletes.