Bruins going to Kansas City

UCLA defeated Cal State San Bernardino, 76-41, Tuesday night in the second round of the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic at Pauley Pavilion and if it’s any consolation to the Coyotes, there were no defensive records set by the Bruins.

For example, Oregon State scored only 35 points against UCLA last January and also in 1966, fewest ever against the Bruins. Lance Ortiz made a three-pointer with 1 minute 23 seconds left to give the Coyotes 37 points.

It was that desire to see a little slice of history made that kept a few hundred of the 7,293 in their seats until the end. Freshman center Kevin Love, who led the Bruins with 19 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes, said he didn’t know about the defensive record that seemed possible.

“That’s the kind of record we’d like to get,” he said.

Love scored his 19 points on only 10 shots and Coach Ben Howland said after the game that one goal is to get Love the ball more often.

“We really need to get him more touches,” Howland said. “He’s such a good passer, especially at the high post. He just has to get more touches.”

The Bruins were almost sheepish in the second half, trying to hold in their exuberance. When Josh Shipp scrambled to keep a ball from going out of bounds and scooped it backward to Luc Richard Mbah a Moute for a dunk, UCLA led, 52-17. And Shipp covered his mouth and his smile when Coyotes Coach Jeff Oliver called timeout.

Love had a one-handed dunk on a rebound and didn’t notice he had four San Bernardino players holding his arms and legs.

Shipp finished with 16 points (14 in the first half) and Russell Westbrook, the sophomore who is holding down the point guard spot until Darren Collison returns from his sprained knee, had 14 points, six assists and only one turnover.

UCLA (3-0) will play Maryland on Monday in Kansas City, Mo., in the semifinals and Howland said he was cautiously optimistic Collison would be available. Howland said Collison did several drills Tuesday afternoon including making about 90 of 110 shots and running at 50% speed, 75% and then 100% without feeling any pain.

“That’s the best news of the day,” Howland said. “Hopefully he’ll be back in time for practice by Friday. But Russell did a very good job. He has improved the last two games in a row playing all those minutes at point guard. It’s good to see.”

Still, Love said, the Bruins will welcome the return of Collison and then most likely next month swingman Mike Roll and forward James Keefe. “When everybody’s here,” Love said, “I think we’re the best team in the country.”

Cal State San Bernardino was a late addition to the field after another team withdrew. According to the NCAA, an NCAA Division II team doesn’t count wins or losses against Division I teams, so the Coyotes’ record is also 3-0 with neither its win against Weber State on Monday nor this loss counting as anything more than an exhibition.

“We had the deer-in-the-headlights syndrome tonight,” Oliver said. “Their physicality really wore on us at both ends of the floor. There’s a reason they’re playing for a national championship. I feel we won’t see a bigger, tougher team this year.”

Overall, Howland said he was happy with a defense that held San Bernardino to 17-for-51 shooting and for the way his makeshift lineup handled some pressing and some zone defense.

“I was pleased with our defensive effort,” Howland said.

“We only gave up 15 points with 16 minutes to go and we attacked the press very well for a team that hasn’t seen a lot of presses.”

UCLA had a 36-11 lead at halftime with the big help of an 18-0 run to finish out the first 20 minutes.

Shipp was the zone buster early, making four of his first six three-point attempts.

The Bruins were casual during a two-minute stretch midway through when their own four consecutive turnovers helped the Coyotes into a 7-0 run. When Ortiz and Marlon Pierce made back-to-back layups, UCLA had only an 18-11 margin with 9:24 left in the half.

diane.pucin@latimes.com