Providence @ Charleston preview

Providence will have to regroup from a stunning loss in the opening round of the Wooden Legacy when meets College of Charleston on Friday in Anaheim, Calif. The Friars succumbed to a game-ending 14-3 run by Long Beach State to fall 66-65 and now must deal with the Cougars.

The Friars led for better than 36 minutes, including a 17-point advantage with 17:28 left in the second half, but couldn't close the deal, scoring four points over the final seven minutes. Luwane Pipkins and Alpha Diallo came through for Providence, combining for 23 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and six steals, but nobody did much else for the Friars, who saw their scoring difficulties return in dropping their second straight game. Providence came into the tournament with the 10th-best turnover margin in the country (7.7), but that took a hit as they gave it up 21 times against 18 turnovers for Long Beach State. The Cougars were able to hang around with Wake Forest for much of the game thanks to 49 points from their starters, but never could get over the hump in a 65-56 loss to their neighbors to the North.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (4-3): Emmitt Holt is back being a solid contributor for the Friars after missing two full seasons due to injuries. The senior, who averaged 12.5 points in 2016-17, has been a solid presence down low for Providence, averaging 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. Holt, who hails from Rochester, N.Y., had eight points, four rebounds and three assists against Long Beach State, snapping a streak of two straight contests with double figures in points.

ABOUT CHARLESTON (3-3): The Cougars, who were led by Zep Jasper, outshot Wake Forest from the field and the 3-point line, but the difference came at the foul line, where the Demon Deacons made 21 free throws to seven for Charleston, and on the boards (44-32). Grant Riller, the top active scorer in the Colonial Athletic Association and the No. 4 active scorer in Division I with 1,914 career points, was held to his lowest output of the season with 11. Riller, a senior guard from Orlando, Fla., came into the tournament with 46 20-point games - four this season - and 11 30-point outings.

TIP-INS

1. The Cougars have four games this season with 32 or fewer rebounds.

2. The Friars are 2-0 against the Cougars, winning both games by five points at home.

3. Providence fell to 97-67 in regular-season tournaments, including 3-4 at the Wooden Legacy.

PREDICTION: College of Charleston 69, Providence 66