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There’s probably no way Washington State could have begun Pac-10 Conference play any worse. The first 5 minutes of the game with Oregon was a stretch of turnovers and missed defensive assignments. The final 7 and a half were filled with missed shots and lack of intensity on defense. Heck, even the clock operator allowed 10 seconds to run off the clock during a timeout and no one caught it. So today’s game will be 39 minutes, 50 seconds long. And, if the Cougars ever get it going, they might need those 10 seconds. As it is, they need some shots to fall. Klay Thompson is 1 for 7 from the floor, Reggie Moore 0 for 3. Combined, they are 0 for 6 from beyond the arc. The Ducks, who went on a turnover spree of their own near the end of the half, have hit 16 of 26 shots as WSU seemed disinterested on the defensive end at times. As the topper, Garrett Sim hit a buzzer-beating layup for the halftime margin, after Xavier Thames scored the last of his nine points, two free throws with 0.06 on the clock. We’ll be back when we can after the game.
Steve Bergum covers EWU football and men's basketball, college baseball, and writes weekly golf column during the summer.
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Vince Grippi covers WSU sports and invites readers to share their thoughts on the sports news of the day.
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Greg Lee covers high school sports throughout Inland Northwest.
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Jim Meehan covers Gonzaga basketball, Whitworth football, Spokane Shock football, college volleyball and prep softball.
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Dave Trimmer covers a variety of high school, college and professional sports and is the primary writer on the weekly Then & Now series.
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bradley010a on December 31 at 6:04 p.m.
Can somebody please explain what happened at the end of that first overtime?
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PhilipJ on December 31 at 6:17 p.m.
Wow…this game.
I don't want to even say how I feel right now.
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TestTruth on December 31 at 6:27 p.m.
Total ripoff…Oregon did not win this game. Don't know which ref made the “T” call but he has no place in the PAC-10.
Feel awful for the team which played a GREAT Game!
Not rooting for Oregon tomorrow…
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Coug4Ever on December 31 at 6:28 p.m.
Geez, no respect even at home. Those refs need to apologize to Cougar Nation, that's the worst case of inequality in officiating that I've seen in a really long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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jnick on December 31 at 6:39 p.m.
Ken Bone DESERVES an explanation, in writing, from the Pac-10 officials as to why they did not call a T on Oregon for the same reason they blew one on the COugs. Once again another illustration that the Pac-10 officiating crews in virtually every sport is the laughing stock of the country. Their arrogance by walking away from BOne when he was screaming at them for an explanation is inexcusable. Go for it Ken, speak out publically and take the rap from the conference. THey can't defend their position!
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jnick on December 31 at 6:41 p.m.
Ken Bone DESERVES an explanation, in writing, from the Pac-10 officials as to why they did not call a T on Oregon for the same reason they blew one on the Cougs. Once again, another illustration that the Pac-10 officiating crews in virtually every sport is the laughing stock of the country. Their arrogance by walking away from Bone when he was screaming at them for an explanation is inexcusable. Go for it Ken, speak out publically and take the rap from the conference. They can't defend their position!
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gslbball on December 31 at 6:43 p.m.
Feel bad for the Cougs–but they never should have let Oregon be in a position to win this game starting from the tipooff. At the end of the day, Cougs are to blame, not the refs
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jnick on December 31 at 6:48 p.m.
In total agreement on the “blame”. The game is won/lost by the players. I just wish for competent officiating. It is the night for wishing and resolutions is it not? HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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coogrrr1 on December 31 at 6:50 p.m.
The refs job is to manage the game and to go unnoticed. And absolutely positively never to be, bigger than the game. I have never heard this call being made, at the very end of a game, with the outcome in the balance.
Many years ago, (76 or 77) the Cougs went down to play UCLA in LA. After losing something like 30 games in a row to UCLA ,the Cougs were fouled and went to the line with one or two seconds remaining. We made the first foul shot, but the point was disallowed for a lane violation.. UCLA went on to win in OT.. The records books, just like today, will someday have a simple (L) after the game..
Sometimes is very tough to be a Cougar
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Coug4Ever on December 31 at 7:01 p.m.
These officials were like the referees in professional wrestling. In that business it's called a “Screw Job.” I disagree with Cougs being to blame for this loss. These kids started slow, and could have hung their heads, but they played their guts out, and did not deserve to have this game stolen from them by the officials. They played great in the second half to tie it up. The attitude that they should not have let Oregon get out to such a large lead might be right for an older, experienced team. But these kids are young, and they'll have flat spots, unfortunately it came in the first half. This officiating was absolutely unforgivable! I know I'm looking a long way into the future, but every home game is a must win for this team if they want a post season invite. They needed this win, and it was simply stolen!
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