Sleepwalking is not allowed in the Pac-10

Darren Collison called UCLA’s struggle against Washington State in its Pacific 10 Conference opener on Thursday “definitely a wake-up call.”

The sophomore guard added, “We thought we were ready. Washington State was our first game, and coach always told us Washington State was going to be our first good test. It woke us up.”

Apparently, their struggles against Oakland and Sam Houston State weren’t alarming enough to awaken them to the need for consistency.

The good thing for Coach Ben Howland is that his team rode the energy of a lively crowd at Pauley Pavilion and rallied in the second half for a 55-52 victory over the plodding Cougars, who appeared more solid than most preseason predictions hinted.

The bad thing is that the Bruins shot merely 27.6% from the field in the first half and 32.7% overall, besides having eight shots blocked and committing 11 turnovers. Also that Collison, the team’s sparkplug, picked up three early fouls.

“I have to learn to play when I’m in foul trouble, not to get my third if I get my second in the first half,” said Collison, who sat on the bench for the start of the second half. “That’s real crucial.”

The top-ranked Bruins escaped by the width of the fingertip that Collison got on a three-point shot by Derrick Low that could have put the Cougars ahead with six seconds left. If not for Collison’s tenacity and the fans’ holiday cheer -- led by a student section that jumped up and down in a rollicking sea of blue when UCLA was on defense -- the Bruins would have had their first loss.

“This game’s in Pullman, Washington, instead of here,” Howland said, “we lose.”

They won and improved to 12-0 because they’re an ensemble act, not a star-driven team. And that has its benefits and drawbacks.

A star can be a difference-maker, the go-to guy who carries a team on his back. The Bruins don’t have that kind of player.

But their starting lineup, though devoid of a down-low presence, has athleticism, quickness and, perhaps, a new appreciation of the value of persistence in creating opportunities out of nothing.

The virtue of ensemble play is that it offers options. If one player is stopped or is cold, others can compensate. But that’s not how it initially played out for the Bruins on Thursday in part because sophomore forward Josh Shipp, who had been averaging 14.9 points and had scored 18 in each of his previous two games, was hobbled because of a sprained right ankle.

Playing with his ankle heavily taped, Shipp scored nine of his 11 points in the first half. No one took charge for the Bruins until the Cougars had padded their four-point halftime lead to seven, with 13:41 to play.

Collison scored all of his 13 points in the second half and Arron Afflalo scored eight of his 13. Pushed away from the basket by the Cougars’ sagging defense, the Bruins began to connect from outside and made five of 11 three-point shots, including the stop-and-pop by Collison that put them ahead, 40-39, with 12:34 to play.

“I didn’t want to lose. Simple as that,” Collison said. “The team got into it and the crowd was a big part of it.”

He said he felt responsible for starting the turnaround, but “I’m pretty sure everybody on the team does.”

No matter how well the Cougars frustrated the Bruins into taking hurried shots in the early minutes, not every Bruin lived up to his responsibilities. That includes Howland, who said he was pleased that his players had the fortitude to claw back but took the blame for the stagnant offense.

Howland repeatedly said that his team was fortunate to win, and he’s right. The Cougars played for long possessions that were designed to set up for good shots and test the Bruins’ patience. Often, they succeeded.

“Your offensive game is never going to be consistent throughout a whole season, but your defensive game can be,” Collison said.

The question becomes whether their concern over their first-half doldrums should outweigh their relief over their comeback. It’s part of learning that staying atop the polls might be tougher than it was to get there.

“We’ve got to understand that we’ve got that bull’s-eye on our chest,” Afflalo said.

Howland was glad the Bruins don’t play again until Sunday, when they face Washington, 10-2 overall and 0-1 in the Pac-10 after a double-overtime loss to USC. Spencer Hawes, the 7-foot freshman sensation, is averaging a team-leading 16.2 points and has blocked 29 shots, looming as a formidable presence for a Bruins team that has no one of his size.

Hawes considered playing for the Bruins but eliminated them early in his decision-making process. A great-grandson, grandson, son and nephew of Husky alumni, he stayed home to continue the recent upsurge in Washington’s program.

Any letup against Hawes and the Huskies will mean that the Bruins’ next wake-up call will go to a second-place team.

helene.elliott@latimes.com