Basketball is a game of chances, and for the Eastern men’s basketball team, senior forward Aaron Patterson maximizes his.

Patterson is hitting 60 percent of his shots and averaging seven points.

But, the team’s leader in field-goal percentage is only averaging five shots a game.

“I’m not a selfish player,” Patterson said. “If I have a chance to score, I score.”

With the Panthers heading back onto the road, Patterson might be seeing more chances, said assistant coach Steve Weemer.

“On the road, you can’t take quick shots; you have to take good shots,” he said. “If you take quick shots and they don’t fall, you can get behind really quick.

“We’re going to try and turn our offense a little and try and get the ball to (Patterson) for some good shots.”

Patterson said he’s comfortable not being the team’s top offensive threat, and he relishes his role as the team’s most physical player.

“That’s my role,” he said. ” I’m a senior, and I don’t feel bad about being a physical player.

“I like to bang.”

His passion for contact has caused Patterson some foul problems, something Weemer said his forward is improving.

“He picks up some cheap fouls because he is so strong,” Weemer said. “He’s got to do a better job of not picking up dumb fouls early because we need him on the floor to give us an inside presence.”

Though Patterson is listed at a generous 6-foot-5-inch, he usually finds himself guarding bigger players.

Weemer said Patterson neutralizes opponents, even at the expense of his statistics.

“What people don’t recognize is that while he might only get six or seven rebounds, he’s keeping other guys from grabbing rebounds,” Weemer said. “He makes hustle plays.

“The stats don’t indicate how well he’s done.”