There were a lot of heroes for the University of Maine men’s basketball team in last Saturday’s season-opening 80-74 overtime win at Northern Arizona.

None was more conspicuous than 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Ed Jones of Rockford, Ill.

Jones, who averaged less than one point a game last season, erupted for 10 points in 14 minutes of play on 5-for-5 floor shooting against the Lumberjacks of the Big Sky Conference. His biggest basket came when he drove the lane with 1:08 left in OT, his layup giving Maine a 78-74 lead.

But it wasn’t Jones’ offense that most impressed Maine coach Rudy Keeling.

“Their big guy (NAU’s 6-9 David Wolfe) had nine rebounds in the first half and he was killing us,” said Keeling. “Ed hadn’t played much, but as he played more and more in the second half he shut him down. Their guy had two rebounds in the second half and Ed got him in foul trouble. He was invaluable on both the defensive end and offensively.”

Making himself a two-end threat is something Jones has worked hard at since last season, when he was utilized as a defensive role player .

Jones was polished enough offensively to have averaged 14.2 points as a senior at Guilford High in Rockford, where he earned All-Illinois honorable mention honors. But Keeling was more impressed with the 187 blocked shots Jones amassed as a senior. So Keeling promptly installed him on the back end of Maine’s full-court press and left the scoring to others.

“My first year, I didn’t really know what was expected of me,” said Jones, a physical education major. “Coach (Mike) Jaskulski said the main thing that would get me playing time was defense. I always felt I was a defensive player first, anyway.”

Jones blocked seven shots in 67 minutes of playing time for a 13-16 Maine team that advanced to the North Atlantic Conference tournament final. The lack of minutes made him understand that 6-6 forwards who don’t score aren’t complete players. Which is why he spent the offseason developing his offense.

“I concentrated on areas in the post. I spent a lot of time on post moves. Now, I feel I know what’s expected of me. Defensive plays. Rebounds, and a little bit of scoring,” Jones said.

Keeling said the work Jones has done is much appreciated and can’t help but earn him more minutes.

“He’s been very good about doing what we’ve asked him to do,” said the fourth-year Maine coach. “He lifted (weights). He’s improved his low-post moves. He’s gotten better, and now we’re reaping the fruits. He’s going to play more and more.”

Jones attributes his rapid improvement to the fact he is still learning the game.

“I started early with baseball and football in Chicago Heights. But I didn’t get into basketball until my freshman year (of high school). I played on the streets. It’s like I have a lot to learn about the game as a player,” he said.

The fact Jones said he received little coaching in high school (“we just rolled the ball out and played,”) has caused him to become a student of the college game.

“This is the first true team I’ve been on, with a true head coach and assistants. My high school coach was really the girls golf coach. I’ve learned a lot from the coaches here,” he said.

Keeling said the prospect of Jones continuing to improve at a rapid pace can only mean good things for Maine.

“He can become a very good player for us,” he said.

Jones, who wants to become a basketball coach himself some day, said he still feels he has plenty of work to do.

“I need to get more moves in the post and be able to be strong with the ball on the perimeter. I also want to play better post defense and be quicker on the perimeter,” he said.

Recalling the moment he stepped on the floor against Northern Arizona, Jones said it was a feeling to build on.

“I just looked up and thought, this was a chance to show what I can give them,” said Ed Jones, who then showed them.