Shipp finally gets credit

Donald Sloan’s driving runner in the lane was blocked, that much was clear right away.

Who blocked it was the topic of some debate after the game.

Most observers sitting court-side credited Josh Shipp. But statisticians at first credited Kevin Love – perhaps by habit.

Love already had seven blocks, and for a while officially had eight.

Which came as a surprise to Shipp.

“I got it,” he confirmed in the locker room, “but as long as we win, I don’t care who they gave it to.”

Love gave credit where it was due.

“I thought I had the right timing, but I think it was Josh who stepped up and blocked it.”

A short time later, the ruling was reversed, giving Shipp his second block of the game and pushing Love back to seven – still a career high. He had four in the first round against Mississippi Valley State.

As for Shipp, he was just happy to contribute something on a night when he missed all four shots he took. “I couldn’t help my team on the offensive end, but at least I helped on the defensive end,” he said.

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UCLA is 8-2 when trailing at the half, and Coach Ben Howland, in his opening statements during a postgame news conference, acknowledged his team’s penchant for making things interesting.

“Well, that was reminiscent of a lot of games we seem to be in lately, where we’re having to make dramatic comebacks in the last few minutes …”

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The overwhelming majority of the crowd of 17,600 was cheering for UCLA, which got an assist from leftover Stanford fans who stayed to cheer on their Pacific 10 Conference rival. Love was asked afterward whether the Bruins would have won the game had it been played at another site.

“I don’t really know if we would have. You want to answer that one, Coach?” he said, nodding toward Howland.

“I say yes,” the coach said.

Added Love: “He said yes, so I’m going to say yes too.”

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UCLA’s 33 victories are a school record – one better than in the 2005-06 and 1994-95 seasons… . Darren Collison’s five three-point baskets tied a career high.

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Federal judge Cormac Carney, a former UCLA football wide receiver, was honored at halftime.

mike.hiserman@latimes.com