CHAPEL HILL - There was something different happening with Duke forward Lance Thomas when he hustled over to block North Carolina forward Danny Green's driving layup with about 7:30 left in the No. 2 Blue Devils' 89-78 victory over the No. 3 Tar Heels on Wednesday.

Unlike a year ago when foul trouble plagued Thomas, he was on the floor to make the play.

"That was a huge play," Duke guard Jon Scheyer said.

Thomas, who had 10 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots, played a strong game inside though he had to battle perhaps the strongest interior player in the country -- North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough.

Giving up 32 pounds to Hansbrough, Thomas still worked to post up Hansbrough and the Devils still fed him for key buckets such as the one he scored with 11:09 left to put Duke up 60-53.

"It says something about the confidence my teammates have in me now," Thomas said.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski showed it, too, when senior captain DeMarcus Nelson exited after picking up his fourth foul with 16:16 left and Duke clinging to a 53-51 lead.

In emergent situations before the one on Wednesday, Krzyzewski would have gone to a small lineup with four guards and Singler or Thomas in the game.

This time, Thomas, Singler and small forward David McClure, joined guards Gerald Henderson and Nolan Smith, then Greg Paulus.

Duke held UNC scoreless and forced five turnovers over the next five minutes, with Thomas grabbing two rebounds.

"I thought Lance was so active tonight, and with him finishing. He also had that block on Hansbrough that turned into a foul," Scheyer said. "Just having presence around the rim, Lance did great job tonight."

Thomas had been playing in the large shadows cast by teammates Paulus, Nelson, Henderson, Singler and Scheyer.

Adding 13 pounds of muscle over the offseason -- he now plays at 218 -- made him more capable of pushing back like he had to against Hansbrough as well as forwards Alex Stepheson (235) and Deon Thompson (240).

Krzyzewski called Thomas' game his "best yet."

Thomas said he's not pushing either. Last season, a quick move on the block would turn into traveling or a turnover; his eagerness on defense would turn into fouls.

Playing in control, Thomas has 34 rebounds, 34 points and six blocks in his past eight games.

"Basically I'm quicker than most of the guys I face, so I could afford to slow down and make sure I'm making the right play," he said. "I'm just taking my time."

At the start of the season, Duke was considered weak inside in part because Thomas was so lanky.

With Thomas playing stronger and Singler taking bigger players inside and outside, the Devils have handled Carolina, Clemson and Maryland, all physically bigger, stronger teams.

"Lance has really built up his confidence, and that's helped him," Smith said. "Early on, Kyle was the one battling. Now, Lance has been playing so tough, and soon we'll have [Brian] Zoubek back.

"I don't know why people call us soft inside."

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