CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In an impressive comeback, Elijah Saunders made a significant impact in the second half, contributing 13 of his 15 points, while Jacob Cofie added all 12 of his points, leading Virginia to a dominant 59-41 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Thursday evening.

The game started poorly for Virginia, as they made only one of their first 15 shots and committed six turnovers, allowing Bethune-Cookman to take an early lead by scoring 12 of the first 15 points. However, Ishan Sharma entered the fray with three three-pointers within four minutes, helping the Cavaliers tie the game at 14.

As the first half was winding down, Virginia attempted to control the final moments, but Brayon Freeman intercepted the ball and converted a breakaway layup, giving Bethune-Cookman a narrow 21-18 advantage at halftime. By then, Virginia had managed just seven field goals while accumulating eight turnovers.

In the second half, Virginia surged ahead by scoring 12 consecutive points, which included key three-point plays from Andrew Rohde and Cofie. During this stretch, Bethune-Cookman struggled significantly, failing to score for four minutes.

Isaac McKneely extended Virginia’s lead to double digits for the first time in the game with a score of 52-41, part of a decisive 13-0 run to conclude the game. Meanwhile, Bethune-Cookman faltered, making only two of their last 14 shots, including eight consecutive misses towards the end.

Sharma concluded the game with 12 points, hitting four three-pointers, and Cofie achieved a double-double by collecting 10 rebounds alongside his scoring. Freeman was the standout performer for Bethune-Cookman, leading his team with 14 points.

Virginia will continue its five-game homestand next Wednesday against Memphis, while Bethune-Cookman will face another Power Four opponent on Saturday, this time against West Virginia.