MILWAUKEE -- Vander Blue scored 13 points and played suffocating defense on the Big East's leading scorer to lead Marquette to an 81-71 victory over Providence Saturday in a game delayed several times because of a dive-bombing bat.

Junior Cadougan led Marquette (14-4, 5-1 Big East) with 15 points, and Trent Lockett and Davante Gardner added 13 each as part of a balanced Marquette attack.

Bryce Cotton, who came in averaging 21.9 points per game, led Providence (10-10, 2-6) with 19 hard-earned points. He attempted just nine shots and made five.

The game included several delays in the second half due to a bat circling the arena -- and occasionally swooping to the floor, sending coaches, players and referees scrambling.

Marquette was coming off a 63-61 overtime loss to Cincinnati last Saturday, and four of its first five conference games went to overtime or came down to the last possession.