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UCLA hoping to improve shooting vs. Mercer

Dec 20, 2008 - 3:16 PM Mercer (6-4) at No. 12 UCLA (7-2), 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- No. 12 UCLA goes for its fourth straight win on Saturday when it hosts Mercer.

UCLA ranks seventh in the Pac-10 in 3-point shooting this season, making only 34 percent from long range. As a result, many teams are beginning to use zone defenses to keep the Bruins on the outside.

Loyola Marymount employed that tactic against UCLA on Wednesday, and despite losing the game, 75-44, limited the Bruins to just 33 percent (11-of-33) shooting from beyond the arc.

The Bruins also rank last in the conference in foul shooting, hitting 59.5 percent this season - 52.5 percent in its last four games.

Mercer has dropped each of its last two games, including a 104-74 drubbing agianst Oklahoma State on Wednesday in the opener of a season high seven-game road trip.

James Florence scored a campaign-high 27 points and grabbed seven rebounds during the loss. The junior guard, Florence is the Bears' leading scorer, averaging 16.9 points per game.