UNC-NCSU Player Postgame Quotes

CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina got a trio of quality games from junior Danny Green and sophomores Ty Lawson and Deon Thompson in its 93-62 triumph over N.C. State Saturday afternoon in the Smith Center.

Green recorded his second career double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds (with the 14 rebounds becoming a new career high) while matching his career high in blocked shots, with four. Lawson posted his second straight turnover-free game running the UNC offense, while contributing 16 points, five assists, two steals, and a rebound.

Thompson established a new career high with 16 points, which came on seven-of-15 shooting from the field, and added five rebounds, three blocked shots, and a steal. Thompson and Lawson tied for the high scoring total for the Tar Heels.

DANNY GREEN

Thoughts about Carolina's 34-4 run in the first half…..

We just focused in on defensive principles and picked up the intensity. We got us going with good defense and easy baskets on offense. They were missing some shots, but I guess it was due to our good defense, so we just kept doing that and we went up big at halftime.

Thoughts about his performance (double-double)……

I feel pretty good about it. I'm more happy about the win. We just continue to keep winning, keep playing good. We just want to get better every game.

Thoughts about responding to Coach Williams' comments on raising the team's level of play…..

The whole team pretty much picked it up in practice, just talking and communicating. We know what we've got to do to get better, and that's getting better on the defensive end. That's little things. Boxing out and just playing our principles the right way Coach asks us to. So, we did that tonight and it worked out for us. We had some spurts where we didn't do it as well as we wanted to, but for the most part, we did a pretty good job of it.

DEON THOMPSON

Thoughts about Quentin Thomas getting him the ball…..

Yeah, he was finding me in the second half really good. That's one thing QT does really good. He can pass the ball really good.

Thoughts about N.C. State's offensive struggles in the first half…..

I think our defense had a big thing to do with it, but I mean, they were missing shots, so that also helps. Our defense was up to where it should be in the first half. We're the No. 1 team in the nation, and I guess for a reason. If we just play how we're supposed to play, then that's the way it should be. They didn't seem frustrated. They weren't arguing at each other or anything like that. They just seemed like their shots weren't falling.

TY LAWSON

Thoughts about N.C. State's point guard, Marques Johnson…..

He looked like once he came across half-court he was ready to give it up to whoever came to the ball first, so we just started pressuring him. He started making a couple mistakes, and that's what helped our defense. Everybody got up, and we played hard.

Thoughts about the team's first half run…..

I just felt like we needed to keep going, because they're a good team. They're just going to come back. I thought they were going to come back eventually, or make a run at it at least, so I just wanted to keep going, keep scoring points, make it (the lead) as high as we can before the second half.