Repetitive stress for Trojans

Deja vu? For Nick Young, this might have felt more like “Groundhog Day,” a never-ending cycle of torment.

The setup was essentially the same as it was in December at the Galen Center, USC in need of a late basket while trailing in the final seconds against Washington State. Once again, Young tried to drive on Cougars guard Kyle Weaver only to be interrupted by a whistle.

And once again, the call went Washington State’s way, with USC’s junior swingman picking up his fifth foul on a charge.

The No. 23 Trojans gamely collected themselves to force an overtime -- and then another -- on several last-second heroics by senior guard Lodrick Stewart, but ultimately they suffered an excruciating 88-86 loss to the 13th-ranked Cougars on Saturday night, while playing the final 10-plus minutes at Beasley Coliseum without their best player.

“It was hard for me to see my teammates out there because I couldn’t really be a part of it,” said Young, who was so distraught that he didn’t participate in several team huddles during the overtimes. “I think I jinxed myself. [Friday] night I watched the movie ‘Deja Vu’ with Denzel Washington.... It ended up happening again.”

Stewart made sure USC didn’t go down meekly, sending the game into overtime on a three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation and then forcing a second overtime when he made two of three free throws with 2.1 seconds to go.

But Washington State secured second place in the Pacific 10 Conference for the first time since 1983 after junior guard Derrick Low made a floater in the lane with 55 seconds remaining in the second overtime and reserve guard Taylor Rochestie converted six of six free throws in the final 28 seconds.

The Trojans (21-10 overall, 11-7 Pac-10) finished in a three-way tie with Oregon and Arizona for third place in the conference but secured the No. 3 seeding in the Pac-10 tournament by virtue of sweeping both teams. USC will play sixth-seeded Stanford in a quarterfinal at 6 p.m. Thursday at Staples Center.

“You can’t be nothing but happy, but it’s kind of sad too because we wanted to finish second in the Pac-10,” said Stewart, who had 22 points. “But we can be happy because we reached a lot of our goals.”

The Trojans appeared headed for their first back-to-back defeats of the season when Young was called for charging with 18 seconds left in regulation and the Cougars ahead, 63-61.

“He did the right move like he did” at the Galen Center, Young said of Weaver, whose defensive play helped the Cougars pull out a 58-55 victory on Dec. 30. “He flopped and he’s at home, he’s going to get the call.”

USC immediately fouled Washington State center Aron Baynes (25 points), who made one of two free throws to extend the lead to three points. But with time winding down, Stewart took a cross-court pass from guard Gabe Pruitt on the wing and made the three-pointer that sent the game into overtime.

In the first extra period, the Cougars (24-6, 13-5) held a 70-68 lead and the ball when forward Robbie Cowgill was called for charging with 27 seconds left.

Stewart then set up on the wing for another three-pointer. The shot missed, but Weaver caught Stewart on the elbow, sending a player who had made 71.6% of his free throws to the line with 2.1 seconds remaining and a chance to put the Trojans ahead.

Stewart made the first attempt but missed the second, setting up a do-or-die final shot with his team trailing by a point.

He made it, and the Trojans lived to see another overtime. They took a 76-74 lead when sophomore forward Keith Wilkinson made a three-pointer, but Rochestie answered with a three on the Cougars’ next possession, and USC never led again.

“We’ve started a little rivalry out here between us now,” Young said. “Next year it could be a big thing.”

Or next week. The teams could meet in a Pac-10 tournament semifinal Friday, with Young and USC eager to forge a new ending.

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ben.bolch@latimes.com