SAN ANTONIO ? Go ahead and call him “Big Bird.” Luke Schenscher is definitely getting the last laugh at the Final Four.

He scores. He rebounds. He passes. He sets picks. He blocks shots. And at the end, he just got in the way.

Symbolically and literally, the 7-foot-1 junior was a dominating figure in Georgia Tech’s 67-65 victory over Oklahoma State in the national semifinals Saturday.

For the first time in school history, the Yellow Jackets will play for a national title Monday against Connecticut.

For that, they can thank the Big Aussie, whose curly, redheaded mess of a hairdo has prompted opposing fans to taunt him with comparisons to the “Sesame Street” character.

“It just spurs me on more,” Schenscher said.

Sure, Will Bynum scored the winning basket on a scintillating drive with 1.5 seconds remaining.

But Schenscher was right in the middle of things — clogging up the lane, nudging Ivan McFarlin with a shoulder and clearing a path for Bynum to drop in the shot that sent the Yellow Jackets to the title game.

Schenscher was all over the stat sheet, leading Georgia Tech with both 19 points and 12 rebounds. He also had an assist and a block, but that told only part of the story.

He was constantly setting picks that created space. He drew a bunch of double-teams, which freed up teammates. He kept putting Oklahoma State one-and-out when the Cowboys missed a shot.

“Luke helped me a lot,” Bynum said. “He’s been big for us all year.”

Back in his native Australia, it was party time. Family and friends began gathering about 6 a.m. at the Schenscher home in Hope Forest, a farming community in southern Australia.

They threw eggs and bacon on the barbie and gathered to watch the game. There were some harrowing moments — such as the satellite going out as the clock wound down. But the picture came back on for the final minute of the game.

“Even though we’re a world away,” Barbara Schenscher said by telephone, barely able to contain her emotions, “we’re still a part of this.”

After Oklahoma State’s desperation heave fell far short at the buzzer, Schenscher carried his teammates one final time.

Or at least one. Senior guard Marvin Lewis, who got the Yellow Jackets going with five three-pointers in the first half, leaped into Schenscher’s arms.