Illinois, UCLA Set for Big Ten Clash on Saturday

Top-10 Illini take on Bruins in Pauley Pavilion matchup

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Illinois Fighting Illini, ranked 10th in the AP poll, are set to face off against the UCLA Bruins in a Big Ten Conference matchup on Saturday, February 21st at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. Illinois enters the game with a 22-5 overall record and 13-3 in conference play, while UCLA is 17-9 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten.

Why it matters

This game features a top-10 team in Illinois taking on a UCLA squad looking to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume. The Illini are coming off a dominant 101-65 win over USC, while the Bruins are looking to rebound from an 82-59 loss to Michigan State earlier this week.

The details

Illinois was led by forward Andrej Stojakovic's 22 points and 3 rebounds in the win over USC. For UCLA, forward Tyler Bilodeau had 22 points and 6 rebounds in the loss to Michigan State. The game will be broadcast nationally on FOX, with Tim Brando on play-by-play and Jim Jackson providing analysis.

  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • Illinois most recently played on Wednesday, February 18, defeating USC 101-65.
  • UCLA last played on Tuesday, February 17, losing to Michigan State 82-59.

The players

Andrej Stojakovic

Illinois forward who led the team with 22 points and 3 rebounds in the win over USC.

Tyler Bilodeau

UCLA forward who had 22 points and 6 rebounds in the loss to Michigan State.

Brad Underwood

Head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a talented UCLA team. They have some great players and will be a tough test for us.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a high seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between two top Big Ten teams should provide an exciting and competitive game as both squads look to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes down the stretch of the regular season.