CINCINNATI-The North Carolina A&T men's basketball team had trouble shutting down No. 24 Cincinnati's preseason All-Big East first-team junior guard Sean Kilpatrick and overcoming the Bearcat bigs on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena, as the Aggies lost 93-39.

Kilpatrick, who was named to John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list and Naismith Early Season Watch List, totaled 21 points in the first half powered by six 3-pointers.   He finished the game with 29 points.  Alexander was not pleased with the way the Aggie defense handled Kilpatrick. 

"We didn't make the adjustments.  We told them what [Kilpatrick] was capable of doing. This is the first game from a defensive standpoint that I was disappointed with our defensive effort," Alexander said.  "We knew what we had to do from a defensive standpoint and we just didn't do it.  It appeared to me from the sideline that we were somewhat intimidated, which there's no excuse for.  Whether you play mid-major or high major or whatever major, you've got to step out and play against the competition that you're playing against."

The Aggies continued to struggle offensively, making just 15 percent of their shots in the game, while Cincinnati shot 51 percent for the game. 

"We continued not to be able to put the ball in the basket from an offensive standpoint.  We just got to keep doing what we're doing and sooner or later the people that I'm counting on, their shots will fall," Alexander said.  "Because we were so ineffective offensively, it just allowed the score to balloon."

The Bearcats also took advantage of their added height in the contest.  The Cincinnati 6-10 centers Kelvin Gaines and Cheikh Mbodj  and 7-1 center David Nyarsuk, combined for 12 blocks in the game, and allowing the Aggies just 14 points in the paint.

"That's a great, great defensive weapon that Cincinnati has.  We attacked the basket, and they just blocked it.  That's very deflating," Alexander said.