Created: 11/9/2009 9:12:18 PM 
Chapel Hill, N.C.-- Deon Thompson scored 20 points to help No. 6 North Carolina spoil Isiah Thomas' college coaching debut and beat Florida International 88-72 on Monday night in the 2K Sports Classic.
Ed Davis added 13 points for the defending national champion Tar Heels (1-0), who had little trouble in their opener with the undersized Golden Panthers. North Carolina shot 56 percent and led by double digits much of the way.
Marvin Roberts scored 18 points for FIU (0-1), which hired Thomas in April to take over a program with nine straight losing seasons.
The Hall of Fame point guard and former NBA coach was on the sideline despite the fact his 86-year-old mother had open-heart surgery in Chicago earlier Monday.
Associated Press
