March 16, 2003

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence College men's basketball team will make its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) since 1999 when the Friars play at Richmond at the Robins Center on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The Friars, who finished the regular season in third place in the BIG EAST East Division with an 8-8 mark, have registered a 16-13 record overall. The Friars posted a 1-1 mark at the BIG EAST Tournament on March 12-13 with a win against West Virginia (73-50) in the first round and a loss to fifth-ranked Pittsburgh (67-59) in the quarterfinals.

Providence will be making its 16th appearance in the NIT Tournament. The Friars, who won the NIT in 1961 and 1963, have registered a 28-16 mark all-time in NIT games. In the Friars' most recent NIT game, Providence was defeated at North Carolina State, 92-86, on March 10, 1999.

Providence has posted a 1-2 mark all-time against the Spiders. The two teams met earlier this season as the Friars defeated the Spiders, 84-55, on December 19 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence.

Richmond finished the season with a 15-13 mark. The Spiders placed third in the Atlantic 10 West Division with a 9-7 mark. In their most recent game, they were defeated by Temple, 66-52, in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio on March 13. Richmond has recorded a 6-6 mark all-time in the NIT and will be making its seventh appearance in the Tournament. Last season, the Spiders were defeated in the quarterfinals of the NIT by Syracuse.

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