LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Darren Collison fired a second-half comeback that allowed the No. 1 UCLA Bruins to rally for a 55-52 Pac-10 win over the Washington State Cougars.
UCLA trailed by nine points in the second half Thursday night before rallying to improve to 12-0 with the victory in their conference opener. Washington State is 11-2 overall and 0-1 in the Pac-10.
The Cougars used an 11-2 run in the first half to build a lead and went ahead 35-26 early in the second half before UCLA started its comeback.
Collison hit two free throws and Arron Afflalo made a three-point shot to start the UCLA charge. Robby Cowgill made a basket for Washington State but the Bruins ran off the next nine points, with Afflalo and Collison connecting on three-pointers, to grab a 41-39 lead.
The Cougars stayed close, however, only to have a pair of three-point shots in the final 30 seconds miss while UCLA was making free throws to seal the victory.
Collison, who scored all his points in the second half, and Afflalo each scored 13 points in leading UCLA. Washington State was paced by Derrick Low's 14 points.
