DUDLEY, Mass. –Junior guard Chris Paquin (Barre, Mass.) scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Nichols College men's basketball team to an 80-62 victory over Suffolk University in its home opener Tuesday evening.  

The Bison (2-1) held the lead from the start and led by as many as 10 midway through the first half after an 11-3 run capped by a free-throw from Michael Salis (Nashua, N.H.) to put Nichols up, 21-11.

A three-pointer and a jumper by Mike Gibbons cut Nichols' lead to five before the Bison went on another 10-1 run to increase their lead to 14, capped by a layup from Justin Aldrich (Douglas, Mass.) with 2:26 left in the half.

Nichols carried a 33-21 lead into halftime after holding the Rams to 28.8% shooting in the opening frame.

The Rams (0-1) chipped away at Nichols' lead with shooting from beyond the arc in the second half, getting as close as four points away with 11:45 remaining after Mike Fleming hit one of the Rams' 12 treys on the night. Suffolk shot 32.4% from beyond the arc in the game.

But the Bison pulled away with a 15-0 run, led by four points from first-year forward Lorenzo Atkins (Gainesville, Fla.) and three-pointers from Paquin and Jeff Lindgren (Sturbridge, Mass.).

Brian Small led Suffolk with a double-double, collecting 18 points and 10 rebounds. Allan Ray and Luke Barrett joined Small in double-digit points with 14 each.

Atkins picked up a team-high nine rebounds to go along with eight points, while Lindgren and Aldrich each scored 10 points.

Nichols is back in action on Saturday in a 1 p.m. home game against Westfield State. Suffolk hosts Eastern Nazarene Saturday at noon. 

Box Score