DATE: Saturday, March 22, 1997              TAG: 9703220469

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y.                    LENGTH:   42 lines

NORTH CAROLINA SPURTS PAST CAL JAMISON SCORED 12 STRAIGHT POINTS IN A 17-5 RUN THAT SENT HEELS TO SUNDAY'S GAME VS. LOUISVILLE.

With his team down seven midway through the second half, North Carolina All-American Antawn Jamison took matters into his own hands Friday night.

The 6-foot-9 forward scored 12 straight points in a 17-5 run that propelled the Tar Heels to a 63-57 win over California in the NCAA East Region semifinals in front of 30,617 at the Carrier Dome.

North Carolina (27-6) will meet Louisville, a 78-63 winner over Texas, in the region final Sunday at 2:40 p.m.

Jamison led the Tar Heels with 21 points.

His two free throws with 6:13 left pulled UNC even at 48. North Carolina, which has won 15 straight, never trailed again.

Vince Carter's alley-oop dunk gave UNC a 50-48. A 3-pointer by Carter made it 53-48 with 5:27 left. Andrew Marks' 3-pointer cut the lead to two, but Cal (23-9) could get no closer.

UNC led 36-34 when California went on a 9-0 run that featured two 3-pointers from Marks, 6-foot-10 reserve center.

California opened the second half with an 8-2 burst, and led 34-30 after Andy Duck's fast-break layup. UNC answered with 3-pointers by Ed Cota and Ademola Okulaja.

North Carolina led 28-26 at halftime behind nine points from Shammond Williams, who hit 3 of 5 3-point attempts, and seven points from Carter.

The Bears stayed close thanks to the inside play of Michael Stewart and Alfred Grigsby, who combined for 15 points.

California led 10-9 five minutes in, but a 10-0 UNC run gave the Tar Heels their biggest first-half lead at 19-10 with 12:25 left.

North Carolina and Louisville have not met since the 1986 NCAA tournament.

The Cardinals won 94-79 in the West Region semifinals and went on to win the national championship. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Antawn Jamison, who 12-point, one-man run was decisive, battles for

a ball with Cal's Alfred Grigsby. Jamison ended with 21 points.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu