University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA to Open Against Illinois in Continental Tire Main Event
July 21, 2022 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball team will take on Illinois in the opening round of the 2022 Continental Tire Main Event at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Nov. 18.
The four-team field of UCLA, Illinois, Baylor and Virginia will compete on Friday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 20. UCLA's opening game against Illinois will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. (PT) that Friday. Baylor is scheduled to face Virginia at 4 p.m. (PT), prior to the UCLA-Illinois contest.
Sunday's schedule includes the championship contest at 12 p.m. (PT), with the consolation game slated for 2:30 p.m. (PT). All four contests will be nationally televised by the ESPN family of networks.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 18
4 p.m. (PT) – Baylor vs. Virginia (ESPN2)
6:30 p.m. (PT) – UCLA vs. Illinois (ESPNU)
Sunday, Nov. 20
12 p.m. (PT) – Championship (ESPN)
2:30 p.m. (PT) – Consolation (ESPN)
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets in UCLA's allocation will be made available closer to the men's basketball season. Ticket prices for the two-day tournament start at $49 per day (prices include tax and a facility fee). Tickets are available online by visiting www.tmobilearena.com or www.axs.com. Tickets will allow access to both games on the given day.
Complete information about the tournament can be found by visiting www.continentaltiremainevent.com and on social media at @VegasMainEvent. Fan travel packages are available on the event website.
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
Illinois: UCLA will be taking on Illinois for the first time since a home-and-home series that took place in Dec. 1996 and Dec. 1997. Most recently, the Bruins secured a 74-69 win over Illinois in Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 30, 1997. The Bruins have gone 6-3 against the Fighting Illini in a basketball series that began on Dec. 23, 1949. Last season, Illinois went 23-10 and posted a 15-5 mark in the Big Ten Conference. The Fighting Illini advanced to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed in the South Region, losing to No. 5-seed Houston in a second round matchup.
Baylor: The Bruins have recorded a 3-1 all-time record in four meetings against Baylor. In the most recent contest, UCLA recorded a 96-75 win over Baylor on Dec. 23, 1975, in Pauley Pavilion. The two programs first met on Dec. 19, 1947. Last season, Baylor went 27-7 overall and 14-4 in the Big 12 Conference. Baylor advanced to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East Region and dropped a 93-86 decision to No. 8-seed North Carolina in the second round.
Virginia: UCLA defeated Virginia, 89-74, in the Bruins' third game of the Great Alaska Shootout (Anchorage, Alaska) on Nov. 26, 1990, in the only previous matchup between both programs. Virginia compiled a 21-14 overall record and an 11-7 mark in ACC action last season, advancing to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). The Cavaliers went 2-1 in the NIT, reaching the quarterfinal round.
UCLA's complete 2022-23 men's basketball schedule will be released in September.
