During a difficult time globally, the Yeshiva University men’s basketball run in the NCAA Division III Tournament has become a source of pride and connection for Jewish communities.
The Yeshiva Maccabees’ trip to Atlanta drew nationwide support from fans who traveled from New York to cheer on the team during the Sweet 16 round. Supporters planned their visit around Shabbat, turning the weekend into a celebration of both basketball and spirituality.
Atlanta’s Jewish community showed up in full force with students from The Davis Academy and Atlanta Jewish Academy cheering on the Macs. Rabbi Adam Starr, a Yeshiva alum who leads Congregation Ohr HaTorah in Atlanta, will host “Meet the Macs” a panel discussion on March 14 with members of the team, as well as Orthodox Union Chief of Staff Yoni Cohen.
Yeshiva’s tournament journey came to an end Friday afternoon as No. 2 Emory University defeated Yeshiva 101-80, punching its ticket to the Elite Eight. The Eagles opened the game on a 16-2 lead and carried that momentum throughout. Senior guard Ben Pearce led Emory with 26 points and 10 assists, while A.J. Harris and Ethan Fauss each added 19 points. Jair Knight contributed 15 points as the Eagles spread their scoring across multiple players.
Yeshiva was led by guard Zevi Samet who scored a game-high 43 points, including 26 in the first half, while Yoav Oselka added 20 points for the Maccabees. Samet finishes his season with a program-record 737 points.
YU’s roster includes seven Israeli-born players, including senior Tom Beza, who is an IDF veteran. Many of the players had family members tuning in from Israel to watch the team take on Emory.
“I’ve heard from people in Israel, this is a very welcome distraction for them,” Starr said. “It’s just a Jewish pride story.” This is the Macs’ best performance in an NCAA DIII Tournament; they previously made it to the Sweet 16 in 2020, but the game was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Players, coaches, and fans from both universities showed sportsmanship throughout the contest, with no protests or political activity surrounding the game. Despite the loss, Yeshiva fans flooded the court after the final buzzer, taking photos with the players and getting autographs, as if they were NBA stars. The power of college basketball to inspire youth and bring communities together was evident inside the Woodruff P.E. Center, where Emory University staff and security ensured the environment was welcoming for all.
Next week, Emory travels to Fort Wayne, IN to play Illinois Wesleyan in their Elite Eight matchup.
