UCLA searching for consistency against slumping DePaul

Dec 13, 2008 - 11:35 AM No. 14 UCLA (5-2) at DePaul (4-3) 7:00 p.m. EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- UCLA is desperately seeking consistency to end its up-and-down run to start the season.

The 14th-ranked Bruins try to earn their second straight win on Saturday when they visit DePaul.

Ranked fourth to begin the campaign, UCLA opened 2008-09 with a pair of victories before suffering a shocking 55-52 upset against Michigan during the 2K Sports Classic on November 20.

The Bruins responded with a pair of lopsided victories over Southern Illinois and Florida International, but were once again upended by then-No. 8 Texas, 68-64, on December 4. It was the earliest that UCLA had lost its second game since it began 3-2 in 2003-04.

The Bruins' guards helped the team bounce back from that loss on Sunday as Josh Shipp and freshman Jrue Holiday each scored 14 points en route to an 85-67 triumph over Cal State-Northridge.

Darren Collison added 13 points and six assists for UCLA, which shot 58 percent (35-of-60) from the floor.

Shipp, Holiday and Collison, the Bruins' top three scorers, should have another good performance against DePaul, which has lost each of its last three games following four consecutive wins to start the season.

Leading scorer Dar Tucker poured in 21 points for the the Blue Demons, but it was not enough as the team dropped a 79-75 decision to Morgan State on Wednesday.