UNC 89, NCCU 42

CHAPEL HILL -- For years, North Carolina's Marcus Ginyard has been known as the guy who can do a little bit of everything: steal, rebound, dive for loose balls, assist, defend, play four different positions, lead.

But guess what: he can score, too.

The fifth-year senior recorded a career-high-tying 17 points during sixth-ranked UNC's 89-42 drubbing of N.C. Central on Wednesday night in the 2K Sports Classic. His 7-for-10 output at the Smith Center, following his dozen-point performance in UNC's season opener, showed two key things:

1.) The surgically repaired left foot that sidelined him last season is just fine, thank-you-very-much, and

2.) He's even more versatile - and assertive -- offensively than he used to be.

NCCU (0-1), under first-year coach LeVelle Moton, kept it close early, cutting what was once a six-point deficit to as little as 19-17 with 12:25 left in the first half when junior Vincent Davis buried a 3-pointer.

But UNC's John Henson countered with a bucket, Central's Davis missed a dunk, and Carolina reserve Justin Watts swiped a steal that teammate Dexter Strickland turned into a three-point play to make it 24-17.

And the deluge didn't end there.

Ginyard helped account for 10 straight points during what would stretch to a 21-0 breakaway run. First, he buried a jumper to make it 32-17. Then he made two straight dunks to increase the cushion to 36-17. He assisted freshman Leslie McDonald to make it 38-17, then made a cutting layup that gave the Tar Heels a 40-17 advantage.

All the while, he looked speedy, fresh and confident --traits he lacked after he tried to return from foot surgery last season, only to take a medical redshirt because he lacked the explosive tenacity that had become his staple.

With 4:05 left in the first half, Eagles guard Dwayne Sims halted the onslaught - briefly - with a 3-pointer. But then UNC countered by scoring 11 more points. In all, the Eagles shot 1-for-13 with eight turnovers in the final 12:22 of the half, and UNC led 51-20 at the break.

Ginayrd followed a 3-pointer with a long jumper that gave the Tar Heels a 68-26 advantage with at least 12 minutes left in the game, and the only real question after that was whether he would break his career high of 17 (set in 2007-08, against UCSB).

He tied it with a dunk about two minutes later that gave the Tar Heels a 74-32 cushion. But with the game secure, he spent the final eight minutes on the bench, cheering on his teammates.

Reserve forward Tyler Zeller added 12 points of 6-for-6 shooting for the Tar Heels (2-0), and senior Deon Thompson chipped in 13.

C.J. Wilkerson led the Eagles with 16 points.

Photo: ROBERT WILLETT - rwillett@newsobserver.com