Nov. 9, 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence College men's basketball team will open the season on Friday, November 13 versus Bryant University at 7:30 p.m. in the World Vision Invitational at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence. The PC versus Bryant game will be the second game of the night as Mercer will face Bucknell in the first game of Invitational at 5:00 p.m.

On Saturday, November 14, the four teams will return to action as Bryant plays Mercer at 4:00 p.m. and Bucknell takes on Providence at 6:30 p.m. The Invitational will wrap up Sunday, November 15 when Bucknell plays Bryant at noon and the Friars face Mercer at 2:30 p.m. All games will be played at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Providence College returns two seniors from a team that finished the 2008-09 season with 19 wins, the highest total since the 2003-04 team earned 20 victories. PC finished tied for seventh in the BIG EAST with a 10-8 record, marking the highest output since the 2003-04 team recorded 11 league wins. Senior guards Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.) and Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) will lead the team. Curry, who ranks 28th all-time in scoring at Providence with 1,124 points, finished second on the squad in scoring last season (11.7 ppg).

All Providence College men's basketball games can be heard this season on the radio home of Friar basketball, 103.7 WEEI FM.

The naming rights to the tournament were generously donated to World Vision by Basketball Travelers, Inc. As a Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision aims to contribute to a 75 percent reduction in malaria cases, with the end goal of nearly zero preventable malaria deaths by 2015. World Vision works in 62 malaria-endemic countries, 23 of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Malaria is one of the leading causes of death for children under 5 in the developing world, resulting in approximately 750,000 child deaths per year--or one every 40 seconds,” said Craig Jaggers, World Vision’s policy advisor for malaria. “Basketball nets and bed nets are a great way of bringing together college students with vulnerable children around the world.”

Fans can purchase tickets for the World Vision Invitational or any Friar game by visiting the Providence College ticket office in Alumni Hall or by calling 401-865-GO PC. Tickets also can be purchased at the box office at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

 

Day	Opponents *	        Time
11/13	Mercer vs. Bucknell	5:00 p.m.
	Bryant vs. Providence	7:30 p.m.
11/14	Bryant vs. Mercer	4:00 p.m.
	Bucknell vs. Providence	6:30 p.m.
11/15	Bucknell vs. Bryant	Noon
	Mercer vs. Providence	2:30 p.m.