It takes more than two to tango: Love, Collison carrying Bruins

But UCLA insists it’s more than a two-man team.

PHOENIX (AP) — Two players can’t win an NCAA title by themselves, even if they’re Darren Collison and Kevin Love.

The slick junior point guard and gifted freshman center accounted for 40 of UCLA’s 51 points in the Bruins’ 51-49 second-round squeaker over Texas A M.

But it was an aberration, the two players say, and the wealth will be shared against Western Kentucky in the West region semifinals tonight.

“We can spread it around,” Love said. “Josh [Shipp] will start knocking down shots. He has been shooting the ball all week. Luc’s ankle is back to 100 percent. And Russell [Westbrook] has been shooting the ball well in practice.”

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is especially important to the Bruins, coach Ben Howland said at Wednesday’s news conference. The big forward missed two games with a sprained left ankle before returning against Texas A M.

“We know at this point, without Luc playing major minutes, it is going to be very rough for us to advance,” Howland said. “He has been a three-year starter. He is an integral part of what we do at both ends of the floor. I expect him to play, hoping that he doesn’t get in any kind of foul trouble, at least 30 minutes [tonight].”

Mbah a Moute had two points, eight rebounds, and six turnovers in what he acknowledged was a rusty 32 minutes against the Aggies. He underwent an MRI as a precaution Monday but said he was ready to go against the Hilltoppers.

Shipp, meanwhile, is recovering from strep throat and trying to find his outside shot. In his last three games, Shipp went 5-for-21, 0-for-10 on 3-pointers. Westbrook hasn’t fared much better, going 8-for-29, 2-for-8 on 3s, in the last three victories.

Still, the Bruins have won 12 in a row, even though five of their last eight have been by three points or fewer and another was in overtime.

“This team has been through a lot of close games, not only late this season, but the last three years,” Howland said. “We’ve won more than we lost in close games. And I think that’s the sign of a good team and a good program.”

So it’s safe to assume the Bruins (33-3) will not take anything for granted against No. 12 seed Western Kentucky (29-6), though no 12th-seeded team has beaten a No. 1.

The Hilltoppers, winners of eight in a row, advanced to Phoenix with a 101-99 overtime upset of Drake, followed by a 72-63 win against a San Diego team that had knocked off No. 4 seed Connecticut.

While the elite programs, such as UCLA, often lose top players to the NBA after one or two seasons, Western Kentucky starts three senior guards — Courtney Lee, Tyrone Brazelton and Ty Rogers.

“I don’t think there is any question it would be hard for us to be here without the senior leadership that we have,” coach Darrin Horn said, “and the fact that those guys have been in the program for a long time, believe in what we’re doing and believe in each other, probably more importantly.”