MIAMI -- FIU will play defending national champion North Carolina in Chapel Hill after all on Nov. 9 in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament in new coach Isiah Thomas' first game.

Last November, FIU signed a contract to play in the tournament stating the Panthers would open against Ohio State or North Carolina. FIU was told by tournament organizers its first-round game and season opener would be against Ohio State.

One week ago, tournament organizers sent FIU an e-mail saying it had switched the Panthers' first-round game to be against North Carolina. FIU was upset about the way the switch was handled and thought about not playing in the tournament.

However, the Panthers decided against it Tuesday afternoon.

``We felt that after everything that has been said and done over the last eight or nine days that the biggest benefit and the biggest winners in our decision to play in this tournament is going to be the American Cancer Society,'' FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said.

Thomas -- whose father, Isiah, and former coach and mentor Chuck Daly both died of cancer -- played his last game at the collegiate level as an Indiana Hoosiers point guard against the Tar Heels in the 1981 national championship game.

Now Thomas will make his collegiate coaching debut against the Tar Heels.

``We are honored to play against North Carolina, the defending national champions,'' Thomas said. ``We are happy to participate in the cause and we are proud to be invited and want to help promote the American Cancer Society in any way we can.''

As part of the tournament, FIU will host a subregional round at U.S. Century Bank Arena on the FIU campus from Nov. 20-23 with James Madison, Murray State and North Carolina Central each playing three games.

Garcia said FIU considered the option to play in the 2010 Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament. Garcia, however, said playing the tournament in 2010 would not have the same appeal as playing this year in Thomas' first game as coach.

FIU's opening game against North Carolina will be broadcast on ESPNU.

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