PASADENA — Although Kevin Craft realizes he was coach Rick Neuheisel's third and last choice to take over UCLA's offense, the senior quarterback's tumultuous two-year history with his coach only made his part in the Bruins' slump-stopping victory over Washington that much sweeter.

Craft passed for 159 yards after taking over for injured Kevin Prince, and UCLA made a late defensive stand to snap its five-game losing streak with a 24-23 victory over the Huskies on Saturday.

Rahim Moore intercepted Jake Locker's deflected pass near the UCLA 20 in the final minute for the Bruins (4-5, 1-5 Pac-10), who ended a school record-tying seven-game conference skid despite losing Prince on a helmet-to-helmet hit late in the first half.

After Prince's injury while sliding to the turf, followed by backup Richard Brehaut's fumble moments later, Neuheisel turned to Craft — and he led the Bruins' comeback from a nine-point deficit, going 10 for 14 with a 29-yard TD pass to Terrence Austin.

“I'm trying to have fun out there, because I know this is my last go-round,” Craft said. “We needed to feel that again, to go out and have fun. We all tried to do that, and the results showed on the field.

The UCLA defense shut out the Huskies (3-6, 2-4) in the final 26 minutes, although Locker moved the Huskies from their 11 to midfield on their final drive. When two players battled down the sideline, they tipped the ball in the air, and Moore, the NCAA co-leader in interceptions entering the game, scooted over to grab it for his eighth interception.