Providence 75, Charlotte 66: Bryce Cotton scored 25 points as the host No. 4 Friars defeated the fifth-seeded 49ers in the first round of the NIT.

Cotton scored six points in the final 1:46 to seal the win for Providence (18-14), which will play No. 8 Robert Morris in the second round. Vincent Council added 16 points, six assists and five rebounds while Kris Dunn chipped in 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

E. Victor Nickerson had 14 points and seven boards for Charlotte (21-12), which turned the ball over 12 times — seven more than Providence. Terrence Williams and Chris Braswell scored 12 each.

Neither team led by more than five in the first half, but a late 6-2 jaunt from Charlotte gave the 49ers a 36-33 edge at halftime. After a Williams 3-pointer pushed Charlotte’s cushion to a game-high 44-37 4:37 into the second half, Dunn scored four of Providence’s seven straight points to tie the game at 44 with 12:40 to go.

Eight straight Council points lifted the Friars to a 54-48 lead with 8:45 left, but the 49ers answered with seven in a row to pull ahead 55-54 2:01 later. With Providence ahead 62-59 and 1:44 remaining, Cotton drilled a 3-pointer before hitting two free throws 33 seconds later as the Friars closed the game on a 13-7 run.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Providence F LaDontae Henton registered 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks while Charlotte F Willie Clayton had 10 points and six boards.. … Cotton finished 4-for-8 from long range and 7-for-8 at the foul line. … The 49ers lost 10 of their last 16 games.