BEARCATS TAKE DOWN AGGIES

Box Score
CINCINNATI, Ohio, December 30, 2005 -- Friday marked a good night for two former Greensboro Dudley High School standouts, but only one former Dudley Panther came away with a win.

The Cincinnati Bearcats, led by Dudley graduate Eric Hicks' 24 points, dropped the Aggies to 0-10 with a 105-69 victory at Fifth Third Arena. Michael Hayes, another Dudley alumnus and Hicks' former teammate there, led the Aggies with 14 points.

Cincinnati never trailed in picking up its 11th win against two setbacks, and its eighth straight victory. UC led by seven, 12-5, early before a 3-pointer by Demetrius Guions and Hayes cut the Bearcats lead to one five minutes into the game.

Armein Kirkland answered with a 3-pointer of his own to put the Bearcats up 15-11. Jason Wills and Guions layups tied the game again. After the Bearcats regained the lead, freshman point guard Christopher Faison tied the game at 17.

UC broke a 17-all tie with a 10-0 burst and led by as many as 20 in the first half. Hicks paced the quick start, scoring 16 of his 24 points in the first half. James White, limited to a season-low 10 points two nights earlier, tallied 12 in the first 20 minutes and finished with 23.

"I think Cincinnati played well,'' said N.C. A&T men's basketball coach Jerry Eaves. "They shot the lights out of the ball. I think they are well coached. I think they are improving every day. I enjoyed watching them play, they are very physical. I think they are getting ready for the conference. They are going to have a serious challenge."

Aside from a non-conference game against Longwood in February, the Aggies will begin playing exclusively in the MEAC, starting on Jan. 4 against Maryland-Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md.