NEW YORK, N.Y. --  Six-foot-7 inch pre-season All-America guard Ryan Turell had 27 points and eight rebounds to power No. 2 nationally-ranked Yeshiva University to its 39^th consecutive victory over three seasons with a 99-69 non-conference victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in the Warriors' season-opener Wednesday night at the Max Stern Athletic Center.
 
Eastern led briefly in the opening minutes before the Maccabees (3-0) used 62.2 percent first-half shooting to move into an 18-point, 55-37 halftime lead. The hosts led by as many as 37 in the final minutes.
 
Playing its first home game this year, Yeshiva won its final 29 games – the final two coming in the NCAA tournament -- in 2019-20 following an opening loss and finished 7-0 in last year's abbreviated season. Entering the game with a season shooting percentage of 76.6 percent, Turell was 11-for-17 from the floor against Eastern. Six-foot six inch graduate student Gabriel Leifer – also a pre-season All-America -- added 13 points (6-for-9 FG) and game-highs of 15 rebounds and seven rebounds. Ofek Reef, last year's Skyline Conference Rookie-of-the-Year, had 18 points and six rebounds for the winners.
 
Eastern committed only nine turnovers in the game but was outrebounded 52-27.
 
Three Eastern senior starting guard finished in double figures. Fifth-year senior Cory Muckle (Westbrook) led Eastern with 17 points, Tyreice Woods (Hartford) adding 12 and Thomas Close (East Hampton) ten. Muckle and sophomore guard Max Lee (Norwich) each had five rebounds. Lee played 33 minutes in his first career start, adding eight points and four assists.
 
Eastern faces St. Joseph's College New York Friday at 5 p.m. in the opening round of the Eastern Tip-Off Tournament. Mitchell College faces Trinity College at 7 p.m.