No. 6 UNC beats Belmont Abbey 107-59 in exhibition

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Deon Thompson had 23 points and eight rebounds to help No. 6 North Carolina beat Belmont Abbey 107-59 on Friday night in its only exhibition game.

Tyler Zeller scored 17 points for the defending national champions, while Ed Davis added 13 points, six rebounds and four blocks. The Tar Heels shot 57 percent and took a 56-36 advantage on the boards against the undersized instate Division II program.

North Carolina used a 10-0 spurt for a double-digit lead 6 minutes in, then put it out of reach with a 13-0 run that made it 55-29 shortly before halftime. North Carolina led by as many as 52 points.

The Tar Heels open the regular season Monday against Florida International.

Richard Barbee scored 15 points for the Crusaders.

Updated November 6, 2009