TOLEDO, Ohio -- Cincinnati's habit of getting off to slow starts finally caught up with the No. 21 Bearcats.

They suffered their first defeat of the year at Toledo on Saturday night, struggling with costly turnovers, special teams mistakes and missed passes in a 29-23 loss.

Cincinnati didn't score until the second quarter and its only lead came late in the third quarter. Even that lasted just a few seconds.

Bernard Reedy was barely touched as he took a kickoff and scampered up the field 91 yards to put the Rockets back in front 26-20.

It was Reedy's third TD on special teams in three weeks. He had an 89-yard kickoff return in a 52-47 victory over Eastern Michigan last Saturday and a 66-yard punt return in a 50-35 win over Central Michigan on Oct. 6.

Cincinnati coach Butch Jones said he knew Reedy was dangerous but giving up the score in that situation was inexcusable. "We finally get over the hump and bam they get a kickoff return," Jones said.

The Bearcats (5-1) have been a slow starting team, struggling in the first half the last two weeks against Miami (Ohio) and Fordham.

They got behind again Saturday, trailing the Rockets 13-0 just a minute into the second quarter.

The Rockets' defense, which allowed 624 yards and a lot of big plays a week ago against Eastern Michigan, kept the multitalented Cincinnati quarterback Munchie Legaux and his high-scoring offense in check. The Bearcats had been averaging 37 points per game and were tops in the Big East in yards and points

Legaux had 228 yards passing and 66 yards on the ground, but never seemed to get on track.

His 25-yard touchdown pass to leaping receiver Damon Julian gave the Bearcats a short-lived 20-19 lead.