PULLMAN -- With three seconds left in double overtime, Oregon's Malcolm Armstead drove the lane and hit the game-winner to beat Washington State 91-89 in a Pac-10 opener Thursday night.
Shortly before Armstead's basket, the Cougars' Klay Thompson had a good look at a 3-pointer. But he missed short to set up Armstead for the winner.
Tajuan Porter led Oregon (8-5, 1-0 Pac-10) with 31 points, including six 3-pointers. Michael Dunigan scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds for the Ducks, and Armstead scored 16.
Thompson's 33 points led Washington State (10-3, 0-1). The Pac-10's leading scorer hit 19 straight free throws. He was 6-for-19 from the field and hit two 3-pointers.
Washington State thought it had won the game in the first overtime after De'Angelo Casto hit a finger roll with about two seconds remaining. But the Cougars were called for a technical foul after the bench players came onto the court with time remaining.
Porter responded by hitting two free throws to send the game into double overtime.
"I thought Oregon's players also went on the court," said first-year Washington State coach Ken Bone. "I can't really say much about that, just that it's disappointing. All I tried to do was tell the officials that Oregon also had players on the court, but they didn't see that."
Porter hit four 3-pointers in overtime.
"When he gets into a rhythm, he is an amazing player for a guy his size, the shots he can make," said Oregon coach Ernie Kent. "He does that all the time. ... We were a force inside with Dunigan, and then Porter just took over. That's what helped us win the game."
Oregon shot 61 percent in the first half, compared to Washington State's 29 percent. Oregon's greatest lead was 15 in the first half. The Cougars did not have their first lead until the first basket in overtime.
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