Elijah Saunders scores 21, makes clutch free throws in Virginia's 63-58 win over American
AP
Dec 22, 2024
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Elijah Saunders scored 21 points and made five of six free throws in the final half-minute to lead Virginia Cavaliers to a 63-58 victory over American Eagles University on Sunday.
Virginia led 32-28 at halftime and struggled to hold the lead in the second half. American hit five 3-pointers in the first 12 minutes of the second half and went ahead 47-42.
Virginia allowed only one made field goal in the next 7 minutes while building a 56-51 lead on Taine Murray's 3-pointer with 1:48 remaining.
Saunders made two free throws with 24 seconds left and one of two with 16 seconds to go for a 59-53 lead.
Matt Mayock finally hit a 3-pointer to snap the Eagles' 0-for-6 shooting skid and American was within 59-56. Saunders made two more free throws for a five-point margin with nine seconds remaining.
Saunders was 7-for-9 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the line. He grabbed eight rebounds. Murray had 13 points and made 3 of 4 3-pointers. Isaac McKneely added 11 points for the Cavaliers (7-5).
Mayock scored 16 points and made 4 of 5 3-pointers for American (6-6). Matt Rogers and Colin Smalls each scored 12.
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1st Half
AMER
Eagles
28
UVA
Cavaliers
32
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Cavaliers gains possession)
19:30
Colin Smalls blocks Dai Dai Ames's two point jump shot
19:28
Cavaliers offensive rebound
19:28
Cavaliers turnover (shot clock violation)
18:58
Geoff Sprouse misses three point jump shot
18:56
Elijah Saunders defensive rebound
18:49
Isaac McKneely misses three point jump shot
18:47
Colin Smalls defensive rebound
18:42
+3
Matt Mayock makes three point jump shot (Colin Smalls assists)
3-0
18:14
Jacob Cofie turnover (lost ball)
17:53
Matt Rogers misses two point jump shot
17:51
Elijah Saunders defensive rebound
17:32
+2
Jacob Cofie makes two point jump shot
3-2
17:15
Matt Mayock misses three point jump shot
17:13
Jacob Cofie defensive rebound
16:58
Andrew Rohde misses three point jump shot
16:56
Geoff Sprouse defensive rebound
16:36
+3
Greg Jones makes three point jump shot (Geoff Sprouse assists)
6-2
16:14
+3
Isaac McKneely makes three point jump shot (Andrew Rohde assists)
6-5
15:53
TV timeout
15:41
Matt Rogers misses two point jump shot
15:39
Elijah Saunders defensive rebound
15:06
+3
Taine Murray makes three point jump shot (Blake Buchanan assists)
6-8
14:38
Matt Rogers turnover (Blake Buchanan steals)
14:07
+2
Dai Dai Ames makes two point layup (Taine Murray assists)
6-10
13:38
Wyatt Nausadis misses two point jump shot
13:36
Cavaliers defensive rebound
13:16
Ishan Sharma turnover (Lincoln Ball steals)
12:52
Blake Buchanan shooting foul
12:52
+1
Matt Rogers makes regular free throw 1 of 2
7-10
12:52
+1
Matt Rogers makes regular free throw 2 of 2
8-10
12:34
Ishan Sharma misses three point jump shot
12:32
Lincoln Ball defensive rebound
12:26
+3
Geoff Sprouse makes three point jump shot (Lincoln Ball assists)
11-10
12:08
+2
TJ Power makes two point layup (Taine Murray assists)
11-12
11:38
Ishan Sharma blocks Colin Smalls's two point jump shot
11:36
Eagles offensive rebound
11:36
Eagles turnover (shot clock violation)
11:36
TV timeout
11:06
Cavaliers turnover (shot clock violation)
10:49
Colin Smalls misses three point jump shot
10:47
Cavaliers defensive rebound
10:25
TJ Power misses two point layup
10:23
Matt Rogers defensive rebound
10:07
+2
Matt Rogers makes two point hook shot
13-12
9:51
Andrew Rohde misses three point jump shot
9:49
TJ Power offensive rebound
9:32
+3
Taine Murray makes three point jump shot (TJ Power assists)
13-15
9:17
Matt Rogers turnover (Jacob Cofie steals)
9:12
Taine Murray misses two point layup
9:10
Matt Rogers defensive rebound
9:05
Colin Smalls turnover (Andrew Rohde steals)
8:54
TJ Power misses three point jump shot
8:52
Matt Rogers defensive rebound
8:25
Geoff Sprouse misses three point jump shot
8:23
Cavaliers defensive rebound
8:01
Isaac McKneely misses three point jump shot
7:59
Blake Buchanan offensive rebound
7:41
+2
Elijah Saunders makes two point jump shot (Isaac McKneely assists)
13-17
7:15
Wyatt Nausadis misses three point jump shot
7:13
Blake Buchanan defensive rebound
6:55
+2
Elijah Saunders makes two point hook shot
13-19
6:55
Julen Iturbe shooting foul
6:55
TV timeout
6:55
+1
Elijah Saunders makes regular free throw 1 of 1
13-20
6:38
+2
Colin Smalls makes two point jump shot
15-20
6:38
Dai Dai Ames shooting foul
6:38
+1
Colin Smalls makes regular free throw 1 of 1
16-20
6:07
+2
Elijah Saunders makes two point layup (Blake Buchanan assists)
16-22
6:07
Julen Iturbe shooting foul
6:07
+1
Elijah Saunders makes regular free throw 1 of 1
16-23
5:37
Matt Rogers misses two point jump shot
5:35
Isaac McKneely defensive rebound
5:22
Blake Buchanan turnover (Matt Mayock steals)
5:01
Matt Rogers misses two point jump shot
4:59
Isaac McKneely defensive rebound
4:38
Blake Buchanan misses two point hook shot
4:36
Matt Rogers defensive rebound
4:21
+2
Matt Rogers makes two point jump shot (Greg Jones assists)
18-23
4:02
Isaac McKneely misses two point layup
4:00
Matt Mayock defensive rebound
3:57
Blake Buchanan blocks Greg Jones's two point layup
3:55
Greg Jones offensive rebound
3:55
Blake Buchanan shooting foul
3:55
TV timeout
3:55
+1
Greg Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2
19-23
3:55
+1
Greg Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
20-23
3:35
Andrew Rohde misses two point layup
3:33
Jacob Cofie offensive rebound
3:31
+2
Jacob Cofie makes two point layup
20-25
3:13
Matt Rogers misses three point jump shot
3:11
Elijah Saunders defensive rebound
2:56
Elijah Saunders misses two point layup
2:54
Lincoln Ball defensive rebound
2:37
+3
Matt Mayock makes three point jump shot (Greg Jones assists)
23-25
2:16
+2
Isaac McKneely makes two point jump shot (Andrew Rohde assists)
23-27
1:50
+2
Matt Rogers makes two point jump shot
25-27
1:28
Greg Jones personal foul
1:21
+3
Dai Dai Ames makes three point jump shot (Andrew Rohde assists)
25-30
0:58
+3
Julen Iturbe makes three point jump shot (Geoff Sprouse assists)
28-30
0:34
Isaac McKneely misses three point jump shot
0:32
Blake Buchanan offensive rebound
0:32
Lincoln Ball personal foul
0:20
+2
Elijah Saunders makes two point jump shot
28-32
0:17
Eagles 30 second timeout
0:10
Andrew Rohde personal foul
0:02
Colin Smalls misses three point jump shot
0:00
Andrew Rohde defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
AMER
Eagles
30
UVA
Cavaliers
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:31
Geoff Sprouse misses three point jump shot
19:29
Isaac McKneely defensive rebound
19:12
Andrew Rohde misses two point layup
19:10
Greg Jones defensive rebound
19:03
+2
Matt Mayock makes two point dunk (Colin Smalls assists)
30-32
18:50
Geoff Sprouse personal foul
18:43
Isaac McKneely turnover (Lincoln Ball steals)
18:37
Greg Jones misses three point jump shot
18:35
Isaac McKneely defensive rebound
18:22
Greg Jones personal foul
18:20
+2
Elijah Saunders makes two point dunk (Andrew Rohde assists)
30-34
17:56
Matt Rogers misses two point layup
17:54
Blake Buchanan defensive rebound
17:54
Matt Rogers personal foul
17:32
Andrew Rohde misses two point layup
17:30
Matt Rogers defensive rebound
17:24
+3
Colin Smalls makes three point jump shot (Lincoln Ball assists)
33-34
17:14
Cavaliers 30 second timeout
17:14
TV timeout
16:50
Elijah Saunders turnover (Lincoln Ball steals)
16:36
Blake Buchanan personal foul
16:33
+3
Colin Smalls makes three point jump shot (Wyatt Nausadis assists)
36-34
16:15
+3
Isaac McKneely makes three point jump shot (Dai Dai Ames assists)
36-37
15:50
+3
Colin Smalls makes three point jump shot
39-37
15:33
Isaac McKneely misses three point jump shot
15:31
Colin Smalls defensive rebound
15:03
Colin Smalls misses three point jump shot
15:01
Jacob Cofie defensive rebound
14:36
Jacob Cofie misses two point jump shot
14:34
Lincoln Ball defensive rebound
14:15
Colin Smalls misses three point jump shot
14:13
Elijah Saunders defensive rebound
13:55
Matt Rogers blocks Dai Dai Ames's two point layup
13:53
Lincoln Ball defensive rebound
13:22
+2
Matt Mayock makes two point jump shot
41-37
13:05
Taine Murray misses three point jump shot
13:03
Lincoln Ball defensive rebound
12:40
Dai Dai Ames blocks Colin Smalls's three point jump shot
12:38
Elijah Saunders defensive rebound
12:08
Elijah Saunders misses three point jump shot
12:06
Matt Mayock defensive rebound
11:42
Matt Rogers turnover (double dribble)
11:42
TV timeout
11:13
+3
Andrew Rohde makes three point jump shot (Elijah Saunders assists)
41-40
10:44
Adrian Samuels misses three point jump shot
10:42
Andrew Rohde defensive rebound
10:31
Andrew Rohde misses two point hook shot
10:29
Greg Jones defensive rebound
10:15
TV timeout
10:00
Matt Mayock misses two point jump shot
9:58
Jacob Cofie defensive rebound
9:44
Julen Iturbe shooting foul
9:44
Jacob Cofie misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:44
Jacob Cofie misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:44
Jacob Cofie offensive rebound
9:24
+2
Elijah Saunders makes two point layup (Jacob Cofie assists)
41-42
8:53
+3
Matt Mayock makes three point jump shot (Greg Jones assists)
44-42
8:35
Isaac McKneely misses three point jump shot
8:33
Matt Mayock defensive rebound
8:16
+3
Geoff Sprouse makes three point jump shot (Lincoln Ball assists)
47-42
7:48
Andrew Rohde misses two point layup
7:46
Jacob Cofie offensive rebound
7:44
Jacob Cofie misses two point layup
7:42
Matt Mayock defensive rebound
7:33
Matt Mayock turnover (traveling)
7:33
TV timeout
7:08
+3
Isaac McKneely makes three point jump shot (Elijah Saunders assists)
47-45
6:47
Matt Rogers misses three point jump shot
6:45
Ishan Sharma defensive rebound
6:21
+2
Jacob Cofie makes two point layup
47-47
6:03
Matt Rogers misses three point jump shot
6:01
Jacob Cofie defensive rebound
5:49
+2
Taine Murray makes two point layup (Jacob Cofie assists)
47-49
5:43
Eagles 30 second timeout
5:26
Jacob Cofie shooting foul
5:26
+1
Matt Rogers makes regular free throw 1 of 2
48-49
5:26
+1
Matt Rogers makes regular free throw 2 of 2
49-49
5:08
Elijah Saunders turnover (Lincoln Ball steals)
5:02
+2
Matt Rogers makes two point layup
51-49
4:43
Lincoln Ball blocks Blake Buchanan's two point layup
4:41
Matt Rogers defensive rebound
4:19
Geoff Sprouse misses three point jump shot
4:17
Blake Buchanan defensive rebound
3:56
Colin Smalls shooting foul
3:56
TV timeout
3:56
Isaac McKneely misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:56
Isaac McKneely misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:56
Eagles defensive rebound
3:55
Andrew Rohde personal foul
3:38
Greg Jones misses three point jump shot
3:36
Isaac McKneely defensive rebound
3:13
+2
Andrew Rohde makes two point jump shot
51-51
2:45
Colin Smalls misses two point layup
2:43
Andrew Rohde defensive rebound
2:24
+2
Elijah Saunders makes two point layup (Jacob Cofie assists)
51-53
1:59
Matt Rogers misses two point layup
1:57
Elijah Saunders defensive rebound
1:48
+3
Taine Murray makes three point jump shot (Jacob Cofie assists)
51-56
1:45
Eagles 60 second timeout
1:27
Colin Smalls misses three point jump shot
1:25
Eagles offensive rebound
1:25
Jacob Cofie personal foul
1:20
Elijah Saunders shooting foul
1:20
+1
Greg Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2
52-56
1:20
+1
Greg Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
53-56
0:52
Jacob Cofie misses two point jump shot
0:50
Matt Rogers defensive rebound
0:25
Geoff Sprouse turnover (Jacob Cofie steals)
0:25
Lincoln Ball personal foul
0:24
Lincoln Ball personal foul
0:24
+1
Elijah Saunders makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-57
0:24
+1
Elijah Saunders makes regular free throw 2 of 2
53-58
0:19
Andrew Rohde personal foul
0:19
Cavaliers 30 second timeout
0:16
Colin Smalls misses three point jump shot
0:16
Elijah Saunders defensive rebound
0:16
Greg Jones personal foul
0:16
+1
Elijah Saunders makes regular free throw 1 of 2
53-59
0:16
Elijah Saunders misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:16
Greg Jones defensive rebound
0:10
+3
Matt Mayock makes three point jump shot (Colin Smalls assists)
56-59
0:09
Greg Jones personal foul
0:09
+1
Elijah Saunders makes regular free throw 1 of 2
56-60
0:09
+1
Elijah Saunders makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-61
0:05
Geoff Sprouse misses three point jump shot
0:03
Matt Mayock offensive rebound
0:02
+2
Greg Jones makes two point jump shot (Matt Mayock assists)
