COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT : Second Half, Game Belong to Ohio State : Southeast: Jackson, Funderburke lead rally in 80-73 victory over North Carolina.

The banner rose out of a sea of several thousand red shirts and hats that was the Ohio State rooting section.

Eleven minutes remained in a tight game, yet the red letters painted on the sheet read: “Mom--Send $$! We’re Going to the Final Four!”

That remains to be seen on Sunday, when the Buckeyes play Michigan, a 75-72 winner over Oklahoma State. But Ohio State did seem Friday night to have more steam left in its season, after it buried North Carolina in a powerful second-half comeback to beat the Tar Heels, 80-73, in the NCAA’s Southeast Regional semifinals.

Before 23,124 in Rupp Arena, Ohio State guard Jim Jackson delivered a kick in his teammates’ pants in the first two minutes of the second half. The Buckeyes, who shot poorly in the first half and trailed at halftime, 37-32, turned to the 6-foot-6 Jackson.

After Eric Montross put North Carolina ahead, 39-32, at the start of the second half, Jackson scored on a follow shot, a runaway dunk and a three-pointer. That tied the score, 39-39.

North Carolina regained the lead four more times in the mid-part of the second half, but its opponent was now shooting better and getting help from reserve Jamie Skelton, who made two three-point shots in the final eight minutes.

And through it all, the Buckeyes’ agile, high-leaping center, Lawrence Funderburke, was at the heart of Ohio State’s comeback, scoring on two spectacular dunks. One came on a follow of an airball by Chris Jent. It gave the Buckeyes a 50-44 lead with 14:21 to play.

Brian Reese gave North Carolina a55-54 lead on a fast-break layup at 10:32. But the Tar Heels’ season was about to run out.

Ohio State passed North Carolina for good with 7:58 remaining on a three-point shot from the corner by Skelton. Jackson then scored twice on spinning layups through North Carolina’s zone defense.

And when Skelton made another three-pointer, with 2:28 to play, Ohio State led, 72-67.

North Carolina’s last real chance was on George Lynch’s jump shot with 1:50 remaining that cut the margin to 72-69. But Skelton then scored on a layup with 1:15 to play, and the Tar Heels had to foul down the stretch.

Coach Dean Smith of North Carolina credited Funderburke and Jackson for the victory. Funderburke finished with 21 points and seven rebounds; Jackson had 18 points and seven rebounds.

Of Jackson’s blitz to open the second half, Smith said: “We knew they’d go to Jackson to open the half, but we couldn’t do anything about it. Funderburke was great, but Skelton really gave them a lift off the bench. He killed us.”

Coach Randy Ayers of Ohio State called his players winners.

“This group just finds a way to win,” he said. “We got good leadership from Mark Baker, who got us into our rhythm, and Jamie off the bench . . . and when things were going bad for us, Lawrence (Funderburke) kept us in it.”

Ohio State (26-5) played North Carolina (23-10) even at the outset until the Buckeyes hit a dead spot after Baker made a layup with 13:40 in the half, cutting the Tar Heels’ lead to 14-13.

After that, Ohio State went nearly four minutes without a point and North Carolina stretched its lead to 22-13 on jump shots by Hubert Davis and Derrick Phelps and two free throws by Reese.

Ohio State shot 35.9% in the first half, North Carolina 58.3%, and the Buckeyes’ shooting average included four dunks. But in the drought, they remained cool and deliberate. When Funderburke cut it to 30-25 with a dunk, Ohio State’s fans, who seemed to outnumber North Carolina’s by two to one, finally got into the game and stayed there.

Baker found Funderburke with a high lob, and the subsequent dunk made it 32-29 with 3:12 left. But from there to halftime, the Buckeyes went flat again. Their only score was Jent’s three-pointer.

North Carolina’s Davis, scored 21 points but favored a sprained left ankle. Montross had 21 points and 12 rebounds.