Ducks beat WSU, but Kent is gone according to report

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon's regular season came to an end on Saturday with one last conference win at McArthur Court and amid reports that its coach has been fired.

Lekendric Longmire had 17 points and 10 rebounds and the Ducks defeated Washington State 74-66 as a rumor swirled that Ernie Kent, in his 13th season as Oregon coach, was let go almost two weeks ago.

Eugene television station KVAL reported Kent's firing during the game. The station cited unidentified sources as saying Kent had been told he was being let go on Feb. 22 after home losses to Stanford and California.

Oregon athletic director Mike Bellotti would not confirm the story as he was leaving McArthur Court after the game, and Kent deflected questions about the report without confirming or denying its validity.

"It was about (Oregon seniors) Tajuan Porter and Joevan Catron today," Kent said.

A near-sellout crowd of 8,761 watched the Ducks (15-5, 7-11 Pac-10) beat the Cougars (16-14, 6-12) to prevent a last-place finish in the Pac-10 for the second straight season.

"You never want to finish last," Longmire said. "After all we've been through this year, we wanted to finish on a good note. And our season's not over."

Klay Thompson had a game-high 22 points for Washington State on 7-of-22 shooting. DeAngelo Casto added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cougars, who finished last in the conference, were plagued by poor shooting. They shot 36 percent and were 8 for 29 from three-point range.

"We have good shooters and had good looks, but we just couldn't make a basket," Washington State coach Ken Bone said.

It was the final Pac-10 Conference game at Mac Court. The Ducks will play the 2010-11 nonconference season at the 83-year-old arena before moving to the new $200 million Matthew Knight Arena by the start of Pac-10 play next January.

Kent, a former Oregon player, is the winningest coach in school history with a record of 234-172.

He has taken the Ducks to five NCAA tournaments, and in 2002 and 2007 reached the Elite Eight. But Oregon went 8-23 last season and won two conference games.

The Ducks and Cougars meet again Wednesday in the opening game of the Pac-10 tournament at Staples Center in Los Angeles.