Kevork Djansezian / the associated press

Other articles by Patrick Finley:

Wildcats 'D' picking up steam Sophomore carries CDO to win Wildcats push for stadium changes Hunted Trojans entertain Oregon Heat fails to change coach's approach PAC-10 Notes Travel costs force Wildcat coaches to use sense, cents Sisk, tired of sitting, takes role of top pitcher Fresno State from WAC in favorite's role at UCLA Sisk, tired of sitting, takes role of top pitcher

Driver/Transportation
DRIVERS Administrative & Professional
KNIGHT PIESOLD
PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT Construction
ROR Construction
Residential Framing Carpenters Health Care
RLM Services, Inc
Pharmacist Health Care
PAINTED HILLS PEDIATRICS
LPN, RN, MA Health Care
ALLIANCE IMAGING
PRN MRI TECH Health Care
CD Therapist
CD Therapist

LOS ANGELES -- Jeff Pendergraph had followed up a missed James Harden jump shot with a dunk, seemingly tying Thursday's Pac-10 quarterfinal with 16 seconds left.

Then he heard the whistle. He did not see an official motion to count the basket. "It felt like a bad sports movie," he said.

ASU's junior forward was called for an over-the-back foul against Davon Jefferson. The basket was waved off, Pendergraph fouled out, and USC made the ensuing two free throws. Without a second ticking off the clock, the Sun Devils went from thinking they were tied to being down by four, and lost the game 59-55.

If the fifth-seeded Sun Devils fail to make the NCAA tournament, Thursday's whistle will live in legend - like "The Catch," but in reverse.

Within 20 minutes of the game's end, ASU coach Herb Sendek had already heard from some. His phone was filled with text messages from friends, "Most of my enemies don't text me," he quipped, telling him what they felt about the call.

"It's the second game that we've experienced a similar ending,' he said. "Our home game against Washington State, there were two consecutive plays that were not called in our favor. Today was another one."

The coach said the dunk looked clean to him; even though he was upset, he said his team has a "compassionate heart" toward the Pac-10 officiating crew. Pendergraph said he "thought I just jumped over everybody and dunked," and didn't feel contact.

"I'm sure if I was sitting on the other bench, I wouldn't have liked it," said coach Tim Floyd, whose Trojans play UCLA tonight at 6. "From my bench, I liked it."

Lost in the controversial finish was the fact ASU didn't make a field goal in the last 9:34. Guard James Harden, who Tuesday said he will return for his sophomore year, made 6 of 13 from the field despite being draped by USC's Daniel Hackett. Trojans guard O.J. Mayo led all scorers with 23.

The full sting of the call won't be felt until Sunday. After finishing fifth in the conference, the Sun Devils are on the NCAA tourney bubble because of a comparatively weak Ratings Percentage Index and strength of schedule.

"It's very difficult to be objective when you're this emotional," Sendek said. "It's hard to separate teams. You can put a paper between a lot of teams." Floyd thinks ASU is in. "I don't believe there was a tournament decision based on that call," he said.