Mike Scott scored 21 points to lead the way as Virginia escaped with an ugly 49-35 win over Drexel Saturday in the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.

Joe Harris joined Scott in double figures with 12 points for the Cavaliers (3-1), who bounced back from a tough loss to TCU on Friday.

Virginia made its mark Saturday on the defensive end, holding the Dragons to 18 percent (4-of-22) shooting in the first half and 26 percent (14-of-54) in the game. Drexel went 3-of-17 from beyond the arc and only got to the line six times.

The Cavaliers return four starters from last year’s team and have high expectations for 2011-12. Scott, who was averaging a double-double when he was injured at the end of last season, is fully healed from that ankle injury and is carrying the team in the early going.

The Dragons (1-2) have been held below 60 points in back-to-back losses. Picked to win the Colonial Athletic Association in the preseason, Drexel is missing top scorer Chris Fouch, who is recovering from a knee injury.