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 positions, lead.

But guess what: He can score, too.

The fifth-year senior tied a career best with 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 Carolina's season-opener on Sunday, showed two key things:

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

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

"There's no question I'm more aggressive offensively at seeing openings and taking open shots - versus looking for that extra pass or looking for that extra guy out there," said Ginyard, who also recorded two rebounds, three assists and three steals in 23 minutes. "I think being more aggressive offensively has been a good benefit for me."

And a great benefit for a team that lost four starters - and the bulk of its scoring - from last year's national championship team.

NCCU (0-1), under first-year coach LeVelle Moton, kept it close for the first eight minutes, 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, beginning a 21-0 onslaught during which Ginyard had a hand - or a swish - during 10 straight points.

First, he buried a jumper to make it 32-17 with 7:12 left in the first half. 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 lead.

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.

During his downtime, Ginyard worked on his shot, and it shows.

"When he shoots it now, I think it's going in," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "I really do. It has great spin, he gets it up in the air, it's not flat, it's going to land softly. I do expect that he'll be more of a scorer - but I want him to be Marcus Ginyard, and then whatever he scores is fine."

With 4:05 left in the first half, Eagles guard Dwayne Sims halted Carolina's onslaught - briefly - with a 3-pointer. But 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.

Ginyard followed a 3-pointer with a long jumper that gave the Tar Heels a 68-26 lead with about 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 UC Santa Barbara).

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 nine 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 14 points. NCCU made only 14 of 55 shots (25.5 percent), and UNC dominated the rebounding 46-24.

Ginyard, as usual, was a huge part of that defensive effort, although this year, he plans to attack his stereotype, as well as the basket.

"Obviously, [I'm] just trying to get outside of just being labeled," Ginyard said. "Everybody wants to label you as one thing, but I just want to be a player - do anything I can and everything I can."

No. 6 North Carolina 89,

N.C. Central 42

Three-point goals: 4-9, .444 (Fleming 1-1, Davis 1-1, Sims 1-2, Wilkerson 1-4, Worthy 0-1). Team rebounds: 8. Blocked shots: 3 (Sapara, Sims, Granger). Turnovers: 21 (Wilkerson 6, Glasker 3, Worthy 3, Fleming 3, Davis 2, Sims, Granger, Sapara). Steals: 10 (Sims 2, Worthy 2, Wilkerson 2, Chasten 2, Glasker, Sapara). Technical fouls: None.

Three-point goals: 5-13, .385 (Watts 1-1, Graves 1-2, Ginyard 1-3, Drew II 1-3, McDonald 1-3, Thornton 0-1). Team rebounds: 4. Blocked shots: 9 (Davis 3, Henson 3, Zeller 2, Thompson). Turnovers: 19 (Drew II 4, Thompson 4, T.Wear 2, Strickland 2, Ginyard 2, McDonald, Henson, Petree, Davis, Watts). Steals: 10 (Ginyard 3, McDonald 2, T.Wear, Strickland, Drew II, Thompson, Watts). Technical Fouls: None.

Att.-14,576.

Officials-Tim Nestor, Alan Spainhour, Steve Coleman.

robbi.pickeral@newsobserver.com or 919-829-8944