Cape Fear Christian Academy’s middle school boys basketball team defeated host Crossroads Christian, 51-29, on Monday as Eli Shwaikeh had 31 points and seven rebounds. Braxton Register added nine points and 11 rebounds in the Eagles’ Mid-Carolina Conference opener. … N.C. State and UNC were fined by the ACC for violating the league’s sportsmanship policies after Saturday’s football game in Chapel Hill. … Appalachian State has fired football coach Shawn Clark after a 5-6 season in 2024. … Ja’Quan McMillian (East Carolina) had a 44-yard pick six with 1:48 remaining for host Denver in a 41-32 win over Cleveland on Monday night. … Kansas and Auburn are ranked 1-2 in this week’s Associated Press college basketball poll. Duke is No. 9 and UNC is No. 20. … The ACC/SEC Challenge gets underway with 10 games tonight. The matchups include Syracuse at No. 3 Tennessee (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.) and Wake Forest at No. 22 Texas A&M (ESPN2, 9 p.m.). … East Carolina (7-1) hosts UNC Wilmington (5-2) (ESPN+, 7 p.m.).