COLLEGE BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS: Isiah gets rude intro to college coaching

Deon Thompson scored 20 points, and No. 6 North Carolina spoiled Isiah Thomas' college coaching debut with an 88-72 victory Monday against Florida International in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Ed Davis added 13 points for the defending national champion Tar Heels (1-0), who had little trouble with Golden Panthers (0-1). North Carolina shot 56 percent and led by double digits for much of the game to kick off its centennial season.

Thomas, who took over Florida International's long-struggling program in April, made his debut on the same day his 86-year-old mother, Mary, had open-heart surgery in Chicago. He spent Sunday with her, then arrived in Chapel Hill for the Golden Panthers' shootaround early Monday at the Smith Center. Before the game, he said he expected to return to Chicago today.

Evan Turner notched a triple-double with 14 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists to power the No. 16 Buckeyes (1-0) to a rout of the Braves (0-1) in the opening round of the 2K Sports Classic in Columbus, Ohio.

Jim Boeheim became the eighth Division I coach to reach 800 victories when the Orange (1-0) walloped the Great Danes (0-1) in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic in Syracuse, N.Y. He is 800-288 in his 34th season.

AP