Providence 72, UNC Asheville 67: Bryce Cotton returned after a one-game absence and poured in a season-high 30 points as the Friars edged the Bulldogs in the seventh-place game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Bayamon.

Kadeem Batts had 15 points and 11 rebounds and LaDontae Henton added 15 points as well as Providence (3-2) – which had just six scholarship players available – overcame a pair of difficult losses at the tournament.

Cotton, who injured his ankle in Thursday’s two-point loss to Massachusetts, showed no ill effects from his layoff with 15 first-half points. The Friars took a 32-25 lead at the break and established a 40-27 advantage early in the second half.

However, Trent Meyer and Jeremy Atkinson sparked a 12-0 run over a 4:21 stretch as UNC Asheville (1-4) narrowed the gap and eventually took the lead on a layup by Meyer with 3:19 remaining.

Cotton came up big down the stretch, scoring six of his team’s final nine points as the Bulldogs managed just three points the rest of the game. Meyer scored a team-high 20 points and Atkinson added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Providence returns to action on Friday when it hosts Fairfield, the school coach Ed Cooley left after the 2010-11 season to guide the Friars. … The double-double was the first of the season for Atkinson and fourth of his career. … Cotton’s career-high is 34 points against Bryant on Dec. 10, 2010.