Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tyler White had his second 20-point effort of the season, but Northern Kentucky struggled to find its shooting touch for the first 30 minutes of the game in an 80-61 loss to Lipsomb in the Atlantic Sun opener for both teams.
 
"We were down 10 points headed into halftime, but didn't feel too bad because a few of our guys were in foul trouble," said head coach Dave Bezold. "By the time we found our rhythm in the second half, we had dug too deep of a hole. As a team, we have to put this game behind us and start preparing for Kennesaw State."
 
Northern Kentucky (6-10, 0-1 A-Sun) opened the game connecting on three of its first four shots from the floor to nab a 6-2 lead, but struggled to find its range throughout the remainder of the first half. The Norse closed the stanza shooting just 28.6 percent (8-of-28), including 6.3 percent (1-of-16) from long range.
 
The exact opposite held true for Lipscomb (7-9, 1-0 A-Sun), which opened the period missing its first three shots before closing the half shooting 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from the field.
 
Consecutive baskets from Jalen Billups and Tayler Persons cut NKU's halftime deficit to single digits at 40-31, Nathan Moran knocked down three 3-pointers to key a 16-2 run by the Bisons that put the Norse behind, 52-31.
 
The Norse finally began to find their range from deep with seven minutes left to play, but the damage had been done and NKU fell, 80-61.
 
White scored 17 of his team-high 20 points after halftime, knocking down 4-of-6 shots from deep. Billups tallied 14 points on the strength of 5-of-7 shooting and hauled in five boards. Persons was the third Norse to reach double-figures, posting a 10-point, five rebound and five assist outing.
 
NKU closed the game at 41.1 percent (23-of-56) shooting, but made just 20 percent (6-of-30) of its threes. Lipscomb made 44.1 percent (26-of-59) of its attempts and 33.3 percent (10-of-30) from deep.
 
Josh Williams scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Bisons. He was joined by Malcolm Smith (17), Moran (15) and Aaron Korn (13) in double-figures.
 
The first home action of the 2014-15 A-Sun Conference season awaits NKU, which hosts Kennesaw State on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7:00 p.m. in The Bank of Kentucky Center. Northern Kentucky's dance team will put its performance for nationals on display at halftime.