LOS ANGELES — Tajuan Porter scored 32 points, including eight in overtime, and Oregon rallied for an 82-80 victory over Washington State on Wednesday night in the Pac-10 Conference tournament opener.
The victory ensured Ernie Kent at least another game to coach the Ducks. Multiple media outlets have reported that he’s already been fired, but Kent has not commented on his status.
Washington State’s Reggie Moore missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have sent the game into a second overtime.
The eighth-seeded Ducks (16-15) advanced to a quarterfinal game against top-seeded California (21-9) on Friday.
Klay Thompson scored 20 points and made six 3-pointers for No. 9-seeded Washington State (16-15), which had five players score in double figures. Marcus Capers added 16 points.
The teams met for the third straight year and fifth time overall in the Pac-10 tournament, more than any other pairing. The Ducks completed a three-game sweep of the Cougars this season, including a double-overtime win in their first meeting.
The Ducks fell behind early, then used a big run to take a halftime lead before Washington State dominated the final eight minutes of the second half.
E.J. Singler tipped in a miss by Porter in the closing seconds of regulation to tie the game at 72-72.
In overtime, the score was tied three times, the last when Moore made one of two free throws. Porter was fouled and made both shots with 35 seconds to go to give Oregon the victory.
Washington State scored the first five points of the second half, tying the game at 37-37. Then Porter and Teondre Williams took over, combining for 12 points in a row to give Oregon a 51-43 lead.
The Cougars roared back with a 17-6 spurt, including consecutive 3-pointers by Thompson, to trail 64-63 with 4:50 remaining.
After two free throws by LeKendric Longmire, the Cougars tied the game at 66-66 on a 3-pointer by Nikola Koprivica. Michael Dunigan scored for Oregon, but Koprivica hit another shot from behind the arc to give the Cougars their first lead, 69-68, since the first half.
After a timeout, the Cougars stole the ball, and Marcus Capers dunked at the other end, keeping Washington State ahead 71-68 with 2:44 to play.
Kent, the longest-tenured Pac-10 coach, has led the Ducks to a school-best 235-172 record in 13 seasons. He has taken Oregon to the NCAA tournament five times, but the team has finished in 10th and ninth place, respectively, the last two seasons.
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