This decision by Howland doesn’t sit well with Love

UCLA center Kevin Love is only a freshman, but he is not quiet.

Love, 19, who was the consensus national high school player of the year, says he never has sat on the bench during the last 90 seconds of a close game.

But on Sunday, Love was UCLA’s biggest cheerleader during the Bruins’ 63-61 loss to Texas at Pauley Pavilion. Coach Ben Howland opted for Lorenzo Mata-Real’s defensive savvy and it was an unexpected experience for Love.

“That’s never happened before,” Love said. “I feel like I’m such a winner, I should be out there.”

UCLA squandered a four-point lead late in the game, giving up the winning basket on an offensive rebound-dunk that left the seventh-ranked Bruins (7-1) looking back. Though not for long. Next up for UCLA is Davidson on Saturday in the Wooden Classic and the Wildcats have lost by a combined 10 points to top-ranked North Carolina and sixth-ranked Duke.

Howland had his own regrets about the loss.

“I think I played Darren Collison too many minutes,” he said.

Collison, who made his first start of the season against Texas after missing the first six games because of a sprained left knee, played 39 minutes.

Howland also knows Love needs the ball more.

“He had 11 touches in the game, which is terrible,” Howland said. “And seven of the 11 times he touched it we scored. It’s not like he’s the big black hole. First play of the game, he dishes outside with a good pass for Josh Shipp, who got a wide open shot that was good.”

Love says he understands intellectually why he was on the bench.

“Lorenzo’s been here 3 1/2 years,” Love said, “and he really focuses on the defense. That’s something I came in here wanting to get better at.”

Howland also suggested that Love needs to be in better physical condition.

“Sometimes he’ll try to rest a little bit,” Howland said. “It’s a high school thing. You have to bend your knees before a move. You’ve got to be ready to go.”

Love says he needs to improve his diet.

“I’ll be hungry and options after the game aren’t that great,” Love said. “The whole thing is diet and game shape is a lot different than practice shape. Hopefully by the Pac-10 [schedule] I’ll really be where I want to be.”

Howland said he didn’t regret having no timeouts left in those final 90 seconds to switch Mata-Real with Love on offensive possessions or to set up a final play after Texas took the lead with eight seconds left.

“We used the timeouts when we were down 12 I think, and down 16, trying to stop the bleeding in the first half,” Howland said. “I called some late in the game trying to get us a breather. It took a lot of energy fighting to get back into the game.”

For the first time since practice began in October, Howland had all 11 scholarship players available for a workout. Sophomore forward James Keefe was given medical clearance for full contact. Keefe had shoulder surgery in August. Howland said Collison had no setbacks with his knee after his marathon minutes against Texas. Michael Roll said his injured foot hurt but that was something he has been told will continue all season.

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diane.pucin@latimes.com