• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

No. 1 UCLA seeks improvement in many areas vs. San Houston St

Dec 19, 2006 - 5:12 PM Sam Houston St (6-4) at No. 1 UCLA (9-0) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- With its Pac-10 Conference schedule looming, UCLA has a few loose ends to tie up.

The top-ranked Bruins look to remain undefeated and improve in several areas Tuesday when they meet San Houston State for the first time.

Despite winning its first nine games to grab the No. 1 ranking, UCLA is shooting less than 60 percent (113-of-189) from the free throw line. The Bruins have also been outrebounded in their last two games and three of their last five.

Darren Collison scored 15 points, Arron Afflalo added 14 and Josh Shipp 13 for UCLA, which scored 18 consecutive points in the first half of Saturday's 74-53 victory over Oakland.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute grabbed season-high 12 rebounds for the Bruins, who limited Oakland to just 32 percent (17-of-53) shooting from the floor.

UCLA faces Michigan in its final non-conference contest Saturday before opening conference play against Washington State on December 28.

After winning five of six games, Sam Houston State shot just 28 percent (20-of-72) in Saturday's 70-62 overtime loss to Cal-Irvine. Jejuan Plair scored 16 points and Jeremy Thomas added 10 for the Bearkats.

Sam Houston may have its hand full at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA has lost just three times in 124 home games as the nation's top-ranked team.