Pinson returning from injury for No. 8 UNC vs. No. 18 Duke

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) Eighth-ranked North Carolina won't have forward Isaiah Hicks but will have swingman Theo Pinson back from injury for Thursday night's rivalry game at No. 18 Duke.

The team said on its official Twitter account 90 minutes before tipoff that Hicks would miss the game after straining his left hamstring during practice Wednesday.

Hicks is the Tar Heels' third-leading scorer, averaging 12.8 points, while also grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game.

The announcement on Hicks' status came about three hours after the team said Pinson would return after missing three straight games.