Youngstown State defeats Georgia 68-56

The Youngstown State bench reacts to a team point during an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, in Athens, Ga. Youngstown won 68-56. (AP Photo/Athens Banner-Herald, Richard Hamm) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Georgia's Vincent Williams (11) guards Youngstown State's DJ Cole (11) during an NCAA college basketball game on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, in Athens, Ga. Youngstown won 68-56. (AP Photo/Athens Banner-Herald, Richard Hamm) MAGS OUT. MANDATORY CREDIT.

Georgia forward Marcus Thornton (2) blocks a shot by Youngstown State guard Shawn Amiker (4) during an NCAA college basketball game on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Athens Banner-Herald, Richard Hamm) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT.

Georgia's John Florveus (32) defends as Youngstown State guard Kendrick Perry (3) drives to the basket during their NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/The Banner-Herald, Richard Hamm) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT; TV OUT

Youngstown State forward Kamren Belin, left, drives to the basket as Georgia forward Marcus Thornton (2) guards during an NCAA basketball game on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Athens Banner-Herald, Richard Hamm) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Kendrick Perry scored 23 points to lead Youngstown State to a 68-56 victory over Georgia on Monday night.

Perry was 10 of 11 from the free-throw line and Kamren Belin added 17 points for the Penguins (2-0) in the first round of the Legends Classic.

Youngstown State led throughout, sprinting to an 8-0 lead and putting the game away with an 11-0 run that gave the Penguins a 51-33 lead with 7:48 remaining.

Perry, a preseason all-Horizon League pick after leading the conference in scoring last season, was held to three points on 0-for-9 shooting from the field in Youngstown State's opener.

He added six rebounds and five assists against Georgia.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 27 points to lead Georgia (1-1), despite playing most of the second half with three fouls.

The Bulldogs shot 12.5 percent from the field (3 of 24) in the first half.

"That was a frustrating loss," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "They came in here and beat our tail. We set the game back 10 years the way we played offensively in the first half."

Damian Eargle added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Penguins, who shot 55.6 percent from the 3-point line (5 of 9) in the second half.

Youngstown State also outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-31.

Georgia was scoreless from the field for the final 6:19 of Friday's opening win over Jacksonville and made only one shot in the first 7:55 against Youngstown State.

The Bulldogs went into halftime having made only 10 of their previous 46 shots (21.7 percent) from the field, combining the second half of the opener with the first half against Youngstown State.

Caldwell-Pope picked up his third foul with 14:27 left after hitting his third 3-pointer of the second half to cut the lead to 32-29.

With him on the bench, the Bulldogs were scoreless for the next 4:35 as Youngstown State increased its lead to 38-29 on D.J. Cole's 3-pointer with 11:43 left.

Caldwell-Pope hit a jumper to cut the lead to 40-33, but Belin hit two free throws and a 3-pointer and Perry had a layup to push Youngstown State's advantage to 47-33 with 8:23 remaining.