Cincinnati had a relatively easy time winning its season opener. Nike Tn 2018 .The No. 24 Bearcats should expect a stiffer challenge Monday night when they host a talented Albany squad as part of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Tip-Off.Sophomore swingman Jacob Evans scored 23 points and junior Kyle Washington added 16 with 12 rebounds as Cincinnati shot 57.9 percent and used a 43-23 advantage on the glass to dispatch of Brown 84-55 on Friday.Our goal is to be the team that plays harder than the other team, said coach Mick Cronin, whose Bearcats entered the AP poll Monday after being the first of others receiving votes in the preseason Top 25.Everybody plays hard. We have got to play harder than the other guy.Cronin and his group should make it a point to maintain that form against Albany, which opened with an 87-81 victory at Penn State on Friday. The Great Danes, whose run of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances ended last season, led by 19 with just over 12 minutes to play before holding on for their first win over a Big Ten team.We had some guys step up and play really well, said Albany coach Will Brown, whose team shot 49.2 percent and outrebounded the Nittany Lions 43-26.Well put this win in our back packet and go play a big Cincinnati team.This is the first meeting between the schools, and another opportunity for the Bearcats veterans to prove how determined they are after losing three of their final four games -- including the American Athletic Conference and NCAA tournaments -- to end last season. Cincinnati returns three starters and 11 letterwinners from the 2015-16 team that went 22-11 and reached the NCAAs for a sixth consecutive campaign.They have experience, Brown coach Mike Martin said. They are ranked in the Top 25 for a reason.Added to that experience is North Carolina State transfer Washington, who made a strong first impression and presents another potent contributor Albany must deal with.I play for my teammates and Im not just saying that to say it, said Washington, who averaged just 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 70 games over his two sea