An excellent scoring opportunity for Maryland was quashed when N.C. State defensive end Audi Augustin blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt with 1:40 remaining in the first half.

Augustin preserved a 24-21 N.C. State lead. 

CHAPEL HILL — After a performance last Sunday in a closed scrimmage at Vanderbilt that North Carolina coach Roy Williams dubbed "yucky," the Tar Heels had to feel better about their 107-59 exhibition victory over Belmont Abby on Friday night.

Senior forward Deon Thompson, right, led the Tar Heels with 23 points; reserve forward Tyler Zeller chipped in 17 and freshman forward John Henson posted four blocks.

The game began with spotlight introductions, a nod to the updated lighting system at the Smith Center and coach Roy Williams’ desire to add a little NBA-style sizzle to the season.

Junior Will Graves got the start at small forward, joined in the first lineup by sophomore point guard Larry Drew II, senior Marcus Ginyard at shooting guard, sophomore Ed Davis at one forward and Thompson at the other.

Henson was the first player off the bench for Carolina.

UNC opens the regular season Monday against Florida International.

Photo: ROBERT WILLETT - rwillett@newsobserver.com

The Thursday night football game UNC hosted last month went well enough that the university expects to do it again.

The Oct. 22 game against Florida State was the first Thursday night game ever held on the UNC campus. For years,  officials had opposed the idea due to fears of congestion and other campus disruption.

But this year's game was held over Fall break, and athletics director Dick Baddour and others were pleased with how things went.

For the story, check out our higher education blog.

DURHAM - North Carolina coach Butch Davis earlier this week compared Duke's passing offense to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

That drew laughter from Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, who coached the Colt's quarterback Peyton Manning at Tennessee: "Well, let's see," he said. "I don't see [wideout] Reggie Wayne out there nor Peyton."

DURHAM -- Everywhere he looks in the Bull City, Duke football coach David Cutcliffe said North Carolina light blue outnumbers Duke blue.

The Blue Devils' second-year coach, who lives in Durham, has found himself surrounded by North Carolina fans and Tar Heel blue. When he arrived he was amazed at the proximity of the two schools.

Wake Forest team physicians have cleared senior quarterback Riley Skinner to play against Georgia Tech on Saturday, the school announced.

Skinner suffered a concussion last week against Miami, but is expected to start his 33rd consecutive game for the Demon Deacons as they visit Atlanta for a 3:30 p.m. game.

 Robert Willett - rmillett@newsobserver.com

GREENVILLE -- East Carolina still has its Conference USA title to defend.

The big splash against name-brand opponent from a major conference will have to wait for another year after Thursday night's lackluster 16-3 loss to No. 22 Virginia Tech.

CLARIFICATION: When Wood was introduced, Trevor Ferguson's name and number -- but not his picture -- flashed on the scoreboard.

 RALEIGH — When freshman Scott Wood, right, was introduced as part of N.C. State’s starting lineup Thursday night, a picture of Trevor Ferguson — last year’s No. 15 – was accidentally flashed on the big screen.

Bet that mix-up won’t happen again.

The 6-feet-7 wing from Indiana scored 12 points during the Wolfpack’s 84-42 exhibition victory over St. Paul’s College. His 4-for-4 shooting — along with DeShawn Painter’s eight points and six rebounds, Josh Davis’ three points and three rebounds and Jordan Vandenberg’s six points and five rebounds — gave the fans at Reynolds Coliseum a hopeful glance of what they can hope for out of the rookie class when State opens the regular season next Thursday.

“Our freshmen are going to be pretty good,’’ said sophomore forward Tracy Smith, who used his height advantage to score 21 points. “Scott Woods is an unbelievable shooter; DeShawn Painter has a good presence inside; Jordan’s very good on defense, we’re still going to work on his offense.”

Wood, Smith, C.J. Williams, Javier Gonzalez and Dennis Horner started for the Pack; State opens the regular season next Thursday.

Photo: ETHAN HYMAN - ehyman@newsobserver.com

N.C. State wide receiver and kick returner T.J. Graham is out for the season with a stress fracture in his leg, the school announced Thursday evening in its injury report.

Graham also missed last week's loss at Florida State, but it wasn't determined until this week that he would not play the rest of the season. He was injured on Oct. 17 at Boston College.

Hip hop has a new hero and it's none other than former Duke great J.J. Redick.

The erstwhile ACC scoring king told allhiphop.com that he's releasing an album with a rap "super group" before the end of the year.