Elijah Saunders finished with 21 points and eight rebounds to lead host Virginia to a 63-58 victory over American University on Sunday afternoon in Charlottesville, Va. The Cavaliers (7-5) won their nonconference finale and handed the upset-minded Eagles (6-6) their second consecutive loss and second against an Atlantic Coast Conference foe this season. Virginia, in its first season under coach Ron Sanchez following the abrupt retirement of longtime coach Tony Bennett, held off American in the closing minutes thanks to clutch defense and free throw shooting. Leading by three, Jacob Cofi came up with a huge steal of American's Geoff Sprouse as he began to drive to the lane with 25.
Elijah Saunders helps Virginia hold off American
