LOS ANGELES — It didn't take long for the Pac-10 Conference to find itself embroiled in another officiating controversy.

Today's first quarterfinal game in the league tournament ended with ruffled feelings and questions about Arizona State's chance for the NCAA tournament as a tying basket was taken away from the Sun Devils by an official's whistle with 16 seconds left against USC.

"Today really (stunk)," said ASU forward Jeff Pendergraph, whose rebound jam off a James Harden miss was waved off before USC wrapped up a 59-55 win. "It seemed like things were taken out of our hands. I didn't feel any contact at all. I was like, `I can't believe this . . .'

"It felt like a bad sports movie."

A closely fought game dominated by the teams' two stars — Harden and USC's O.J. Mayo — wound inside the final minute with the Trojans clinging to a 57-55 lead after their 15-4 second-half run got them the edge.

Following a USC turnover at the 22-second mark, Harden pushed the ball upcourt, penetrated and missed. Pendergraph rose over USC freshman Davon Jefferson and dunked, only to hear a whistle that nullified the basket. When Jefferson hit two free throws, it was over, leaving ASU coach Herb Sendek to windmill his arms in derision at the officials as he left the court.

Replays appeared to show minimal or no contact between Pendergraph and Jefferson.

"From my perspective, I thought it was clean," said Sendek. "I'm getting a number of text messages from my friends across the country already. Most of my enemies don't text me.

"It is what it is."

The controversy was the latest to hit Pac-10 officials. Last weekend, UCLA benefited from two late-game calls that brought them from behind to beat Stanford and Cal, and conference supervisor of officials Bill McCabe criticized the key foul call against Stanford.

Sendek also referred to a one-point home loss to Washington State as one in which he thought ASU was the victim of late, questionable calls. He added: "It's a hard game to officiate. No game has ever been played where the coach doesn't make a mistake and players don't miss shots and turn the ball over.

"It's the same way with officiating. I really believe in my heart, they're trying to do their best, and nobody is trying to take anything from anybody. Nonetheless, as competitors, it can be painful."

It could also be hurtful to ASU's NCAA chances. The Sun Devils (19-12, 9-9) were widely considered in with a victory, but now they have to sweat Selection Sunday.

"Hopefully the excellence of the conference this year will be rewarded," Sendek said. "Anybody who comes and watches night in and night out has to say, `Wow.' Everybody thought if we won today, we were in. Today, none of the guys on our team were losers."

Mayo had 23 points and six assists. Harden, like Mayo a freshman and first-team All-Pac-10 selection, had 16 points, four assists and seven steals but USC's Daniel Hackett held him to 2-of-7 shooting in the second half.

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