ORONO – When Pat McCrossan enrolled at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, N.J., his hope was the private Catholic high school might help him further his basketball career.

While athletic at 6-foot-4, the two-time all-conference pick didn’t always match up physically against some of the league’s taller and bigger power forwards.

Eight years later, McCrossan is still tangling with larger opponents. Now it’s on the football field.

The 240-pound senior from Sparta, N.J., has been a dependable defensive end for the Black Bears, who will try to snap a three-game losing streak in Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. Colonial Athletic Association game at Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y.

“We’ve got to win,” said McCrossan, one of UMaine’s co-captains. “We’re going into a big run of CAA games right now and it’s a huge part of the season.”

McCrossan, a key contributor on the Bears’ defensive front the last three seasons, has played in 37 consecutive games, including 26 starts.

Last fall, he was one-fourth of the formidable line that included current New York Jets backup noseguard Mike DeVito and end Matt King, a free-agent signee. Those two, along with tackle Bruno Dorismond, earned all-league recognition.

“He played with some good players and has gone from kind of the unknown solider last year to the well-known soldier this year,” said UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove.

“He’s a great pass rusher, a good run stopper and a guy that we can count on to be tremendously productive in the defensive scheme,” he added.

McCrossan has demonstrated steady development since his arrival in Orono, thanks in part to a quiet, no-nonsense approach.

He wasn’t a huge kid coming out of high school, but has combined quickness from his basketball background with a considerable frame and hard work in the weight room to make himself into a force.

“He’s one of those guys that has been there since Day 1 and has grown and developed and become a really good player,” Cosgrove said. “He’s developed his body from kind of a skinny kid to the man he is now who’s a very important and productive part of our defense.”

McCrossan has been solid so far in 2007, posting 16 tackles including 2.5 quarterback sacks. He has plenty of responsibility for the Bears as he lines up on the play side.

“I go to the strength of the offense, so I face a lot of heavy run stuff, the power schemes,” McCrossan said. “My big thing is stopping the run.”

He is usually lined up opposite an offensive tackle. Those guys outweigh him, on average, by 50 or 60 pounds.

“Technique is huge playing defensive line,” he explained. “You can be as strong as you want, but if you don’t have technique, you’re just going to get eaten up.”

The Pennsylvania native also has taken advantage of his agility and speed while rushing the passer effectively. He boasts 13 career sacks.

McCrossan said the aim is to make his presence felt on every play.

“We just try to play fast and physical,” he said.

While recruited by several Patriot League schools, McCrossan chose UMaine because of the integrity of the coaches and the close-knit, family atmosphere among the players in the program.

It was a good enough fit that his younger brother Ryan has joined the UMaine roster. The redshirt freshman linebacker, who was a baseball standout at Seton Hall Prep, serves as the Bears’ long snapper.

Pat McCrossan is happy he could be around at the same time as his brother.

“It’s fun watching him kind of grow and develop because I went through a lot of things he’s going through right now,” he said. “I think it’s nice for him, because at points it’s hard and frustrating when you’re a young guy trying to compete for playing time and trying to find a niche on the team. I just tell him that it’s a process.”

This fall, McCrossan is finishing up his degree in public management. He’ll graduate in December.

In the meantime, he wants to help the Bears get back on track this season.

“We’ve got a good group of guys on the team, a lot of positive guys,” McCrossan said. “We’ve just got to keep working and I think it’ll take care of itself.”