GREENSBORO - The Cy Alexander era will start 7 p.m., Friday, November 9 when the Aggies host Division III Greensboro College at Corbett Sports Center. The new North Carolina A&T men's basketball coach had his 2012-13 schedule released on Monday. It includes 12 home games, a game against one of his former players and a trip to Las Vegas.

The schedule will also include something the Aggies have not had in six seasons, a December home game against a non-conference opponent.  

"It's a very challenging schedule," said Alexander. "Our non-conference schedule is really going to test us early on. That's going to be a good thing because there are so many quality teams in the MEAC. I'm hoping our non-conference schedule prepares us for the rigors of the MEAC.

A&T will follow up the opener against the Pride with another home game the following Monday as Utah Valley visits the Dawg Pound on November 12 at 7 p.m. The majority of the Aggies' November games are on the road, including contests at Wright State, Cincinnati and Iowa State.

The Aggies then head to Las Vegas to begin play in the Global Sports Hoops Showcase. Play begins Friday, November 23 at 12:30 p.m., against Campbell. The next day the Aggies will play in either the consolation or title game against Jacksonville State or Arizona State. November will conclude with the Aggies renewing its Gate City rivalry with UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m., Wednesday, November 28 at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Three days later, the Aggies have another big rivalry game as N.C. Central comes to Corbett Sports Center to play at 4 p.m., on December 1. The Aggies December road games include stops at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Seton Hall, Texas Tech and Cal State Bakersfield. Eastern Kentucky will play at Corbett Sports Center on December 19, marking the first time a non-conference opponent has been to the Dawg Pound in December since St. Andrews loss 92-58 on December 5, 2006.

The New Year will start with Radford visiting A&T on January 2 at 7 p.m. The Highlanders are coached by Mike Jones, who played for the Howard men's basketball team when Alexander was an assistant there in the late 80's. After playing Georgia Southern on January 5, the Aggies head into full-blown conference play.

A&T opens the meat of its conference schedule at Bethune-Cookman on January 12, and will end regular-season conference play at Norfolk State on March 7.

"Obviously playing against two Big East schools and two Big 12 schools will be quite an experience for our young men," said Alexander. "We're looking forward to playing in Las Vegas and of course when you see UNCG and North Carolina Central on the schedule, you know Aggies are looking forward to those two."

The 2013 MEAC Championship Tournament will be held in Norfolk, Va. from March 11-16.