MONTCLAIR, N.J. — A dramatic finish ended Bates College's return to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament on Friday afternoon.

With the score tied at 69 and just 0.2 seconds remaining, Yeshiva's Max Zakheim (Sr.-Bergenfield, N.J.) converted two free throws after a rebound foul was called following a missed layup by Chris Bianco, lifting the Maccabees to a 71–69 victory over the Bobcats in the opening round at Panzer Athletic Center.

The Bobcats had erased a double-digit first-half deficit and appeared poised for a potential final shot after Babacar Pouye tied the contest with a layup , 69-69, with 18 seconds remaining. Yeshiva's Zevi Samet (Sr.-Monsey, N.Y.) missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, and Bianco secured the rebound before racing the length of the floor for a last-second attempt that rolled off the rim. On the rebound scramble, a foul was called on Jamari Robinson with just two-tenths of a second showing on the clock, sending Zakheim to the line.

Zakheim converted both attempts to seal the win for Yeshiva (21–8), which advances to face the University of Maine-Farmington on Saturday after the Beavers defeated host Montclair State, 96–84.

Bates (18–9), making its first NCAA tournament appearance since advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in 2014–15, mounted a strong second-half rally after trailing 39–28 at the break. The Bobcats shot nearly 49 percent in the second half, connecting on 16-of-33 attempts from the floor.

Robinson, a first-year, led Bates with 19 points off the bench, including a key three-pointer that briefly gave the Bobcats a 61–60 lead with just 5:52 remaining in regulation. Sean O'Leary added 13 points and seven rebounds, while senior Brady Coyne, in his final contest as a Bobcat. finished with 12 points. Pouye contributed eight points and a team-high nine rebounds, including the tying basket in the closing seconds. 

Yeshiva was paced by Samet, Skyline Conference Player of the Year, who scored a game-high 27 points and surpassed the 2,500-career point mark in the victory.