NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Josh Williams scored 24 points to lead Lipscomb to an 80-61 win over Northern Kentucky on Saturday night in the Atlantic Sun Conference opener for both teams.

Malcolm Smith added 17 points and nine boards for the Bisons (7-9, 1-0). Aaron Korn had 13 points and Nathan Moran 12. The team sank 44.1 percent from the field overall and 85.7 percent from the line.

Lipscomb took a 30-19 advantage late in the first half on a Talbott Denny 3-pointer and the Bisons led 32-22 at the break.

After a slow second-half start, a pair of Moran 3-pointers sparked the Bisons to a 16-4 run that put them up 56-35 with 7:54 to play. Northern Kentucky tried to close the gap in the final minutes with Tyler White sinking a trio of 3-pointers and Cole Murray draining another but it was not enough.

White scored 20 points for the Norse (6-10, 0-1).