Third time the charm for Cougs?

It’s a basketball truism that beating the same team three times in one season is tough. Washington State is hoping that’s true as the Cougars prepare to play Oregon in the first game of the Pacific-10 tournament, just four days after losing to the Ducks in the regular season finale.

Oregon (15-15, 7-11) swept the season series in two close games, with Saturday’s loss dropping WSU into last place in the Pac-10.

The Cougars (16-14, 6-12) play Oregon tonight (8 p.m., FSN, KXLY 920) in Los Angeles, with a goal of putting together a solid 40-minute game for the first time in weeks and getting to the second round.

“We’re excited to play Oregon again,” WSU coach Ken Bone said.

Oregon coach Ernie Kent said his focus will be on getting his team to score more points against the Cougars.

“We left points on the floor,” in both previous games, he said.

Oregon may be distracted by broadcast reports last weekend that Kent would be dismissed at the end of the season.

Television station KVAL of Eugene reported that athletic director Mike Bellotti had already told Kent he would not return as coach next season. Kent has declined to comment and Bellotti has said his decision will be made “around the (Pac-10) tournament.”

Washington State became the first conference team to finish last despite at least six league wins, and their 16 overall wins are the most ever by a last-place team. That makes them a dangerous opponent in the tightly packed Pac-10.

“There are nine of us who feel we could win it and get to the (NCAA) tournament,” Kent said. Southern Cal took itself out of the postseason this year for recruiting violations.

The Cougars fell at Oregon, 74-66, on Saturday. They lost at home, 91-89, in double overtime in the Pac-10 opener for both teams.

The Cougars have weapons. Sophomore Klay Thompson ranks third in the conference with 19.6 points per game, scoring at least 20 points in 16 of WSU’s 30 contests. But he has been maddeningly inconsistent in the latter part of the season.

With 22 points at Oregon, Thompson has 1,003 career points, the 31st Cougar to reach that milestone. He’s the third fastest, accomplishing the feat in his 63rd career game. The only Cougars to do it faster were Steve Puidokas (52 games) and Jim McKean (57 games).

Post DeAngelo Casto was an honorable mention to the all-conference team and was chosen for the all-defensive team. He averages 10.7 points and 6.9 rebounds and leads the Pac-10 with 2.1 blocked shots per game.

Guard Reggie Moore averages 12.9 points and 4.1 assists and was chosen to the all-freshman team.

But it has been a struggle to get all three of those athletes to play well on the same night, Bone said, leaving WSU with some frustrating losses.

“We are better than we have shown,” Bone said.

WSU holds a 3-1 advantage against Oregon in the Pac-10 Tournament and has ousted Oregon from the event the past two years.

The winner of their game plays top-seeded California in the quarterfinals Thursday.