TODAY’S GAMES

NONCONFERENCE

* No. 24 UCLA (3-2) vs. ILLINOIS (8-2)

Time--10:30 a.m. TV--Channel 2. Radio--XTRA (690) and KIEV (870).

The Bruins reache a pivotal point in their schedule, the first trip, starting with a game in Chicago’s United Center against a talented Illini squad led by first-year Coach Lon Kruger. If the Bruins can get past Illinois and then win at St. Louis, they will have momentum going into conference play. If they can’t, it could be a long season. For Illinois, which lost in overtime at California and lost by 10 to Louisville in Hawaii, the main threat is point guard Kiwane Garris, who averages 18.2 points and 5.4 assists a game and has made 31 of 53 three-point shots. Illinois lost another scoring threat when starting forward Jerry Hester suffered a back injury. If Toby Bailey is bothered by the hip he banged-up in practice Wednesday, the Bruins probably will need to get better bench production--most notably from senior forward Bob Myers, who has struggled.