Friars will play on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.





PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence College men’s basketball team will make its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) since 2007 when the Friars play Miami (Fla.) on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence.



Fans can purchase tickets starting tonight (Sunday, March 15) at 10 p.m. via the internet at www.friars.com. Fans interested in purchasing tickets also can call or visit the Providence College ticket office at 401-865-GO PC starting Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Fans also can purchase tickets at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Box Office starting on Tuesday. The cost of the tickets are $10 for upper arena and $15 for lower arena seating.



The Friars, who finished the regular season in eighth place in the BIG EAST with a 10-8 mark, have registered a 19-13 record overall. Providence posted a 1-1 mark at the BIG EAST Tournament as the Friars defeated DePaul, 83-74, in the second round and were defeated by fifth-ranked Louisville, 73-55, in the quarterfinals.



Providence will be making its 18th appearance in the NIT. The Friars, who won the NIT in 1961 and 1963, have registered a 30-18 mark all-time in NIT games. In the Friars’ most recent NIT game, Providence was defeated at Bradley, 90-78, in overtime in the First Round on March 14, 2007.



Providence has posted a 15-14 mark and 1-1 record on neutral courts all-time against former BIG EAST foe Miami. The two teams last met on November 18, 2007, when the Hurricanes defeated the Friars, 64-58, at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan. Providence last played Miami in the NIT on March 19, 1963, winning 106-96 en route to the team’s second NIT title in three seasons. PC last won in Providence on February 21, 2004, earning a 70-57 victory.



The Hurricanes finished the season with an 18-12 record. Miami placed ninth in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 7-9 mark. In their most recent game, they were defeated by Virginia Tech, 65-47, in the first round of the ACC Tournament on March 12. The Hurricanes have recorded a 3-8 mark all-time in the NIT and will be making their ninth appearance in the Tournament and first since 2006.