Casey Arena enjoys shooting the basketball, and he does it well.

Only five players have scored more points in a Black Bear uniform than Arena, who has 1,498 points in less than four full seasons at the University of Maine.

During this, his senior season, Maine’s point guard has sacrificed his offense to become more of a playmaker. As a result, the Bears enter the quarterfinal round of the North Atlantic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament as the No. 3 seed.

Arena leads Maine, 14-12, into Saturday’s 8 p.m. game against sixth-seeded Vermont, 11-15, at the Carpenter Center in Newark, Del.

No UMaine player in recent history has been as durable or dependable as Arena. The 6-foot-1 sparkplug from Beverly, Mass., has played in all 109 games dating back to the beginning of the 1992-93 season, and has stared 93 of those.

“He’s had little injuries, but he’s a tough kid and he’s played right through them,” said Maine coach Rudy Keeling, who concedes it is Arena who makes this team go.

When freshman John Gordon arrived this season, Keeling contemplated letting him run the point and use Arena at shooting guard. Instead, Arena worked to become a more unselfish floor leader.

“He’s become the consummate point guard and he’s the guy who gets everything going,” Keeling said. “He’s the leader in terms of getting the offense started, deciding who gets the shots and deciding the tempo we play. He’s developed into the leader I’ve wanted him to be since he was a freshman.”

It hasn’t been the easiest transition for Arena, who knew he could better help his team without trying to score 25 points a game.

“I realized a high-scoring point guard is not gonna win ballgames,” Arena said. “Look at Vermont and New Hampshire. I just wandered toward what was best for the team, getting everybody involved and having people step up their games.”

Arena’s ability to penetrate and dish have helped open up Gordon on the perimeter. Gordon is Maine’s leading scorer at 13.4 points per game, and Arena is close behind at 11.9.

Arena finished the regular season as the NAC’s top assist man. His 6.3 average landed him in 18th place among the national Division I leaders.

At UMaine, Arena ranks second behind his predecessor, Marty Higgins, on the all-time assist list with 567. And on the defensive end, Arena has made 224 steals, second behind Higgins on the UM honor roll.

“He has been the guy who gave us a chance to win games,” Keeling said of the last four seasons. “Whether it was is shooting, his ballhandling skills, his passing ability, or his defense, he has been invaluable.”

Arena has demonstrated more maturity this season, abandoning his pleas with officials and keeping his focus on the game.

“I was 21 when I realized it doesn’t do any good to complain,” Arena said. “I had to grow up.”

One goal remains for Arena, and that is to get another shot at Drexel and a NAC title.

“As a player, you’re never satisfied with what you’ve done,” Arena said.