Preview: Providence Friars at Marquette Golden Eagles MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Two Big East teams seeking momentum will meet Monday night when the Providence Friars visit the Marquette Golden Eagles at Bradley Center. Providence (9-9, 2-4 Big East) enters on a high note after a 93-88 home victory over Creighton on Friday. The Friars have shown offensive firepower but consistency has been an issue, alternating wins and losses in their last five contests. The Friars are led by guard Stefan Vaaks, who is averaging 18.6 points over his last five games. He is coming off a 24-point, 7-assist performance against Creighton. Jamier Jones (18 points) and Ryan Mela (14 points) provided key support in that win. Marquette (6-13, 1-6) looks to halt a three-game skid, most recently a 75-80 loss at DePaul. The Golden Eagles have struggled in conference play, with their lone Big East win a 66-65 nail-biter over Xavier on Jan. 7. Guard Nigel James has been a bright spot for Marquette, scoring in double figures in six straight games. He averaged 21.2 points and 5.2 assists over a recent five-game stretch, including a 31-point outing against Villanova. While Providence holds the better overall record, both teams have faced challenges in a deep Big East. The Friars rank higher offensively, but have allowed an average of 92.5 points in their last four games. Marquette will need to exploit that defensive vulnerability while finding more scoring options beyond James. The Golden Eagles won both meetings last season. Monday’s game offers Providence a chance to climb back to .500 in league play, while Marquette desperately needs a conference win to build confidence before a tough stretch. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST. Providence visits Georgetown next on Jan. 24. Marquette travels to face Butler on Jan. 23.