BLACKSBURG, Va. - N.C. State play-by-play broadcaster Gary Hahn isn't working today's game at Virginia Tech because he is recovering from prostate cancer surgery.

Wolfpack Sports Marketing general manager Brian Asbill said the cancer was discovered in an early stage.

"His prospects for complete and total recovery are excellent," Asbill said.

Hahn, who is in his 20th season as the voice of the Wolfpack, was replaced on play-by-play by Tony Haynes, who usually serves as sideline reporter. Mark Thomas replaced Haynes on the sideline, and Johnny Evans remained in his usual position as color analyst.

BLACKSBURG, Va. - N.C. State offensive coordinator Dana Bible did not make the trip to Virginia Tech for today's 3:30 p.m. game, school sports information director Annabelle Myers said this afternoon.

Bible is undergoing medical tests of an undisclosed nature, Myers said. Running backs coach Jason Swepson will move from his usual position on the field up to the coaches' box and call plays for the Wolfpack.

While Friday’s 87-71 loss to Syracuse was both staggering and humiliating for North Carolina’s basketball team, the experience should provide the Tar Heels with a valuable measuring stick.

For an inexperienced, still-uncomfortable team, which Carolina is, Syracuse amounted to the perfect early-season storm.

MIAMI - Duke leads Miami 16-13 at the end of the third quarter at Land Shark Stadium.

THIRD QUARTER

The Hurricanes pulled to within three points with six minutes remaining in the third quarter.

A 12-play, 54-yard drive ended with a made field goal by kicker Matt Bosher. The Hurricanes moved the chains but were ineffective in the redzone.

Both teams relied on the place kickers in this one.

Duke junior kicker Will Snyderwine made his third field goal to cap a 10-play, 60-yard, 3:55 drive with 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

@ Chestnut Hill, Mass.

UNC's Deunta Williams just picked off his third interception, returned
it to the half-yard line, and Ryan Houston returned to the game to
scored the touchdown. UNC lead 28-13 with 4:39 left.

earlier...

Tailback Ryan Houston has been sidelined since mid-way through the
third quarter, and Carolina could use him right about now, to help run
down the clock. Fullback Anthony Elzy and wide receiver Johnny White
have been running the ball without him.

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Just when you thought the Tar Heels' offense might score, T.J. Yates
threw his third interception, into the hands of BC’s Roderick Rollins
in the end zone, with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter. UNC, which
is still clinging to a 21-13 lead, now has four turnovers today.

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Helped by two pass interference calls on UNC's Charles Brown, Boston
College has cut UNC's lead to 21-13 with 1:13 left in the first half.
BC quarterback Dave Shinskie found Rich Gunnell -- who also caught
passes of 27 and 16 yards on the drive -- for a 2-yard touchdown.

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With about 3:30 left in the second quarter, UNC opted to go for it
on a 4th-and-12, rather than let Casey Barth try a 45-yard field goal.
Bad idea. T.J. Yates threw his second interception, picked off by BC’s
Marcellus Bowman – and wasted UNC safety Deunta Williams’ pick (BC’s
third turnover of the game).

UNC still leads 21-6.

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No. 12 is back. At least, back on the ice with the Canes.

Eric Staal took part in today's morning skate at the RBC Center but is not fully ready to rejoin the lineup. Canes coach Paul Maurice said today the center should return in the next 10 days but that Staal would make the trip to Dallas and Anaheim next week.

"It's been tough, no question," Staal said. "It's been a learning experience for me because I've never been through something like this before.

"I'm working and doing everything I can to make sure I'm back in the lineup as soon as I can at 100 percent."

Here's the places you'll be headed the day after Thanksgiving if you're off to watch South Johnston or Princeton play in the third round of the NCHSAA prep football playoffs.

3-AA Eastern Regional Semifinal

Douglas Byrd (9-4) at South Johnston (12-1)

1-A Western Regional Semifinal

Princeton (10-3) at Mount Airy (13-0)

Both games will kick off at 7:30. 

We'll have more info on the games, including directions to Mount Airy on the blog this coming week.

48 Hours Mystery (9pm, CBS) - Saturday night is typically a night of network repeats, but 48 Hours has two new back-to-back episodes. The first show is about a con artist who assumes several identities in order to gain admission to Ivy League schools; the second episode is about the murder of a Phoenix art dealer whose Las Vegas showgirl ex-wife is the main suspect in his death.

Saturday Night Live (11:30, NBC) - Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("3rd Rock from the Sun" kid actor turned movie star) is the guest host. Dave Matthews Band is the musical guest. 

Austin City Limits (12midnight, UNC-TV) - Keep your 90s groove going with Pearl Jam, who plays classic songs and songs from their 2009 album "Backspacer."

While it may not be likely, Clay Aiken could actually be prosecuted over voting in last month's school board election.

As noted in today's aricle by Josh Shaffer, the Wake County Board of Elections will hold a hearing on Wake GOP Chairman Claude Pope's challenge of Aiken's voter registration status. Although Pope's press release says they're not seeking punitive action against Aiken, that might not matter.

The Wake Board of Elections will first decide whether Aiken should still be registered to vote in the county. They'll ask Aiken questions such as where his pets spend the night and where he goes to sleep at night.

South Johnston added to its school-record total for wins in a season Friday night, downing Rocky Mount 35-18 in the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A state football playoffs. The Trojans are now 12-1 on the season and will host a third round game next Friday night at Ronald Avery Stadium.

We'll have more on the Trojans' win and next opponent in Wednesday's edition of The Herald of Johnston County.