CHAPEL HILL — Hubert Davis had a particular pregame message for UNC basketball ahead of its matchup with North Carolina Central.

Before the Tar Heels throttled the Eagles in a 97-53 rout at the Smith Center, Davis highlighted N.C. Central’s top scorer Gage Lattimore, a player who entered the game averaging 24 points.

“Coach Davis harped on it in the pregame: ‘When he comes here, he’s gonna have an off night,’ ” freshman guard Derek Dixon said. “That’s something we keyed in on, making sure we take away his looks and make his game hard.”

Sophomore wing Jonathan Powell confirmed the pregame moment that occurred with UNC’s fifth-year coach.

“Coach Davis emphasizes: Whoever the other team’s main guy is, I mean, no matter what they did the game before or the other games, when they come i

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