Shots Don’t Fall for Bozeman, Thompson

The evidence is indisputable by now. Although freshman guards Cedric Bozeman and Dijon Thompson are rangy, athletic and full of potential, they share a significant flaw.

They can’t shoot.

Both racked up points in high school because they dominated shorter, slower opponents by taking the ball to the basket. At UCLA, they’ve displayed the ability to create shots by penetrating, but don’t do so with regularity.

That leaves jump shots, and, put simply, they don’t fall.

Bozeman missed all four attempts from the field against Arizona, dropping his shooting percentage to 38.1%. He is four for 19 in the last five games.

He is especially inaccurate from three-point range and the free-throw line, staples for a point guard, making only four of 17 (23.5%) from each place.

Thompson made a dunk and missed an open three-point shot against Arizona. He has not made more than two field goals in a game since his best outing, a 14-point effort against UC Irvine in December.

He is 36 for 94 (38.3%) from the field, including eight of 33 from three-point range (24.2%). Thompson has missed seven three-point attempts in a row.

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TODAY

vs. Arizona State

12:30 p.m. Channel 7

Site--Pauley Pavilion

Radio--KXTA (1150, 850)

Records--UCLA 17-7, 9-4, Arizona State 13-10, 6-8.

Update--The Sun Devils’ 22-point loss to USC on Thursday dropped them to 1-7 on the road. However, Arizona State, the only Pacific 10 Conference team to defeat Arizona and Oregon, can be dangerous. Center Chad Prewitt has averaged 20.4 points and 7.4 rebounds the last 14 games. The Sun Devils will be without versatile senior forward Awvee Storey and guard Kenny Crandall, who is shooting 47.4% from three-point range in Pac-10 games. Both are injured. UCLA outrebounded Arizona State, 50-35, in the Bruins’ 82-79 victory at Tempe. The Sun Devils have not won at Pauley Pavilion since 1987.

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Steve Henson