Fans and basketball teams from Duke and North Carolina stood in silent unity before the 9 p.m. tipoff, respectfully honoring Eve Carson, UNC's student body president who was killed Wednesday in Chapel Hill.

The Tar Heels further saluted their fallen classmate by wearing a black patch with "Eve" stitched on the game jerseys.

Supporters from both schools, baffled and grieved by the tragedy, wore Carolina blue and white ribbons in another gesture of sympathy.

"It's really a great loss; she had so much going for her," said Jenny Jin, a Duke freshman from Cary and a member of the Cameron Crazies. "The biggest thing was to show respect [tonight]."

Nicholas Del Vecchio, a Duke sophomore from Long Island, N.Y., said he had attended a party recently in the area where Carson's body was found.

"It does put in perspective that this is just a basketball game," he said. "I think this community has responded well and shown support."

A saddened North Carolina guard Marcus Ginyard tried to soldier on. He had met Carson on two occasions and grappled with the loss.

"Obviously, dealing with a tragedy like that, it's tough on the student body; it's tough on the community," he said Friday. "It's going to be another thing that's in the back of everybody's mind. But it's another thing we have to push through."

When the game began, after players had exchanged handshakes, both teams competed with customary Duke-UNC ferocity.

And the Cameron Crazies were back in their typical, raucous voice, rocking the Indoor Stadium.

Carson, a Phi Beta Kappa student committed to helping others and competitive in spirit, would have wanted that kind of atmosphere.