March 22, 2003

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rob Sanders scored a career-high 20 points and Ryan Gomes added 19 to lead Providence past College of Charleston 69-64 in a second-round NIT game Saturday night.

The Friars (18-13) will host Georgetown (16-14) on Monday night.

Tony Mitchell scored 13 points to lead Charleston (25-8).

Sanders and Gomes shot a combined 18-of-25 from the field, and they teamed for 15 rebounds.

They each made their first four shots, and the Friars jumped to a 20-16 lead. But the Cougars rallied to take a 35-34 halftime lead on a 3-pointer by Troy Wheless with 1 second left.

The teams exchanged the lead once early in the second half before the Friars surged ahead by seven. The Cougars fought back in the next 1:27 on two 3-pointers to tie it at 47-all.

Providence regained the lead and extended it to as much as 64-56 with 3:37 left, on Sheiku Kabba's two free throws. The Friars made four free throws the rest of the way to seal the victory.