Oregon State (0-18) makes league history

Oregon State couldn’t avoid its record for futility.

Saturday’s 77-64 home loss to Arizona State gave the Beavers the first 0-18 record in Pacific 10 Conference play since the league expanded for the 1978-79 season.

“We never expected to come into this season and go 0-18,” said Oregon State guard Calvin Haynes. “Every time we lose it hurts more and more.”

Arizona State (19-11, 9-9) had to overcome a desperate team while also trying to improve its own possibilities for an NCAA tournament berth.

Ty Abbott led the Sun Devils with 18 points and eight rebounds.

“We had to win today to keep our chances alive and we found a way to do that,” Arizona State Coach Herb Sendek said.

Oregon State (6-24, 0-18) got a career-high 22 points -- including six three-point baskets -- from Lathen Wallace.

Arizona State pulled away after scoring six consecutive points, taking a 69-60 lead on James Harden’s dunk with 3:47 remaining.

The Sun Devils ended the game on a 13-4 run.

Sendek said he knew to expect Oregon State’s best game, given the Beavers’ position. He got that, as the Beavers made a season-best 13 three-pointers. However, as they have throughout the conference season, they struggled overall from the field, finishing 22 for 65 (33.8%).

“It was a really hard game. The dynamics were such that it was a great challenge for our team,” Sendek said.

With the victory Saturday, Arizona State became the fifth team in Pac-10 history to have at least a .500 record in conference play after finishing in last place the year before.

The Sun Devils were 4-14 in the 2006-07 season.

No. 23 Washington State 76, Washington 73 (2 OT) -- The Cougars (23-7, 11-7) held off the Huskies (16-15, 7-11) ) to clinch third place in the conference.

Taylor Rochestie scored eight of his 16 points in the extra periods as Washington State defeated Washington for the seventh time in a row.

Ryan Appleby missed a long three-point attempt at the buzzer that would have sent the game into a third overtime period.

Oregon 78, Arizona 69 -- The Ducks (18-12, 9-9) finished the regular season tied for fifth in the conference and earned a first-round bye in the Pac-10 tournament.

Oregon’s win at Eugene helped bolster its chances for a return to the NCAA tournament, where the Ducks reached the final eight last season.

The Wildcats (18-13, 8-10), hoping to reach the NCAA tournament for the 24th consecutive season, finished in seventh place.