CHARLESTON, S.C. - For the third time in program history and in preparation for the upcoming 2012-13 season, the College of Charleston men's basketball team will take a foreign tour to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from Aug. 8-11 in conjunction with Anthony Travel.

First-year head coach Doug Wojcik and his staff are excited at the preseason opportunity to gain additional practice time together in the summer, play good international competition and begin team bonding.

On the trip, the Cougars will play three exhibition games against Canadian collegiate teams on Aug. 9, 10 and 11. Per NCAA rules, they will be allowed 10 additional practices in preparation for the trip. CofC will have the majority of its roster eligible for travel as all returners, incoming freshmen, junior college transfers and players, who sat out last season, are allowed to partake in the foreign tour.

"This is a great opportunity for our new staff and team to develop chemistry prior to the season," said Wojcik, who has taken part in foreign tours to Scandinavia and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in the past. "Our players have been here all summer working, training, practicing and going to school. This trip will allow us to be in a good place heading into the fall semester with the majority of the team back in addition to our four newcomers on the squad."

Opponents for the three games in Toronto have not been finalized, but will be announced at a later date. NCAA rules permit Division I schools to take part in a preseason foreign trip once every four years.

CofC last made a foreign trip to London, England, during its final NAIA season in 1988-89, to play in the World Invitational Basketball Championships under legendary head coach John Kresse. The Cougars, defending NAIA national champions at the time, were also members of the U.S. contingent who participated in the Hapoel Games held in the summer of 1983 in Tel Aviv, Israel.