He was closer to the emblem at mid-court than he was to the 3-point line.

He hadn’t made a shot since the onset of the game, missing nine after that.

So, when Washington State senior guard Taylor Rochestie hoisted a last-second 3-pointer, logic said it wouldn’t go in.

Funny how logic goes by the wayside sometimes.

He swished it.

With it came a 51-49 WSU overtime victory, sending Beasley Coliseum into bedlam – on Senior Day, no less.

“The shot went up, and I started walking back because I saw it was good,” WSU senior center Aron Baynes told The Associated Press. “We want the ball in Taylor’s hands at the end of the game.”

ASU senior Jeff Pendergraph called Saturday’s loss the worst of his college career, probably because it dashed any chance for the No. 14 Sun Devils (21-7, 10-6 Pac-10) to claim their first Pac-10 Conference title.

Meanwhile, the Cougars (16-13, 8-9) kept their hex going over ASU coach Herb Sendek, as they remain the only Pac-10 team he hasn’t beat during his tenure in Tempe.

The loss also gave the Sun Devils an 0-4 record against the Washington schools this year.

If Thursday’s 73-70 overtime loss to Washington in Seattle was a heartbreaker, Saturday’s was a full-blown heart attack.

No team led by more than six points the entire game. It was the methodical, grind-it-out contest that most expected.

With his team down 43-40 in the final seconds of regulation, ASU sophomore guard James Harden was fouled beyond the 3-point line.

WSU coach Tony Bennett tried to ice “Big Game” James, calling a timeout after each of his first two attempts, but Harden knocked down all three to send it to overtime.

Just like Thursday’s contest, however, Harden fouled out in the extra period.

ASU junior guard Derek Glasser kept up his recent role as resident Mr. Clutch, as he hit a 3-pointer with 1:26 left in overtime to give the Sun Devils a 49-48 lead.

ASU almost scored on the possession before Rochestie’s dagger, but a Pendergraph alley-oop attempt was swatted away by WSU’s Caleb Forrest.

After Rochestie’s long shot, ASU sophomore guard Ty Abbott chucked up a 40-foot heave of his own, but it clanked off the backboard and rim before falling to the hardwood.

Such is life in the Pac-10, where anyone can beat anyone.

The Sun Devils lacked the offensive continuity that they carried into Saturday’s contest, and notched just nine assists on their 16 field goals.

The Cougar defense showed why its the stingiest in the nation, holding ASU to 41 percent shooting on the afternoon.

WSU freshman Klay Thompson scored a game-high 17 points, showing off one of the prettiest shots in the Pac-10.

Pendergraph played all 45 minutes and never got into foul trouble, but never really got involved with the offense. He spent most of the game setting screens and passing the ball off to his teammates.

Meanwhile, Harden struggled mightily from the field. He finished with 13 points on just 2-of-11 shooting.

Reach the reporter at alex.espinoza@asu.edu.