PROVIDENCE — With an eye toward Rhode Island’s struggling economy, Providence College has announced that it is offering $5 tickets for seven home games this season.

The first game the $5 tickets will be available is next Saturday’s doubleheader at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. It will be the second day of the World Vision Invitational, which features PC vs. Bucknell and Bryant vs. Mercer. PC is also offering a limited number of season tickets for all 18 home games for $99. The cut-rate seats will be located either behind the two baskets or in the building’s 300 sections.

“In these tough economic times, we want to make it possible for all fans to enjoy Friar basketball at the Dunk,” said PC athletic director Bob Driscoll. “With these discounted-ticket opportunities, our fans can enjoy top-notch college basketball at a fraction of the price of other entertainment options in the area.”

The Friars will play their second and final exhibition game Saturday night at The Dunk against Stonehill College (7 o’clock). They’ll open the regular season next Friday against Bryant in the first round of the three-day round-robin World Vision tournament. Among the other games available for $5 include visits by Brown, Boston College and Vermont.

Driscoll said the slumping economy has hurt ticket sales thus far, but he’s hoping the pricing changes — plus hopefully a successful start to the season — can spark further interest.

“Our sales are down about eight percent from last year, but given the unemployment in our state, plus the fact that we have a new team, that’s not unexpected,” he said. “I’ve heard other schools are down 18-20 percent, so I’m appreciative of what our fans are doing thus far. If we win some games, we’ll see some good walk-up crowds.”

Driscoll said PC has re-sold most of its higher-end tickets, including all of the courtside seating options. The school also offered existing season-ticket holders a payment plan last July that proved successful.

“Fans had the option of paying in six equal monthly payments stretching from July to December. About 50 percent of season-ticket holders took advantage of this option this year,” Driscoll said.

After the nonconference slate ends with a visit from Yale on Dec. 21, the Friars host nine Big East opponents. Included are games against traditional powers Louisville, Connecticut, Georgetown and Syracuse. PC averaged 8,310 fans in 2008-09. That was the program’s lowest figure since 2002 and 10th in the Big East, ahead of DePaul, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Rutgers and South Florida.