ALLIANCE, Ohio – The no. 19 nationally ranked Mount Union men's basketball team lost their season opener to Yeshiva 86-81 on Friday afternoon.
The Purple Raiders (0-1) had three players score in double figures, with senior
Marcus Steele (Solon) leading the way with 18 points. Sophomore
Elijah Farrington (Massillon / Massillon Washington) added in 17 and fifth-year
Christian Parker (Canton / GlenOak) recorded a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double to round out the Raiders in double figures.
The Maccabees (1-0) were led by Zevi Samet who scored a game-high 34 points and Max Zakheim who added in 24.
Yeshiva opened the game with a 7-2 run over the first 2:26 before Mount Union would answer with a 9-4 run over the next 3:28 of game time to take a 13-11 lead with 13:28 to play in the first half. The Maccabees would reclaim the lead with a 9-2 run of their own over the next 2:53 of game time before a quick 6-0 run from the Raiders would cut the lead back down to one with just over eight minutes to play in the first half. Yeshiva would then go on a 17-8 run over the next 6:50 to take their largest lead of the game at 10 points with just over a minute remaining in the half and would take a 42-33 lead into the halftime break.
The Maccabees and the Raiders would trade baskets back and forth to open the second half before a Farrington jumper sparked a 7-0 run to cut the lead down to 52-48 with 14:25 remaining in the game. However, three quick Yeshiva baskets would push the lead back out to nine over the next minute and a half. Mount Union would then answer with a massive 15-5 run over the next 6:10 of game time to tie the game at 66 apiece with just over five minutes to play. However, the Maccabees would once again stretch their lead back to multiple possessions, going on a 9-2 run to take a 75-68 lead with three minutes to play. The Raiders weren't able to get closer than four over the final three minutes of action as Yeshiva would go on to win 86-81.
The Raiders hit the road next when they travel to Alfred, N.Y. on Tuesday, November 12 to take on Alfred State at 7 p.m.