PROVIDENCE – They’re playing at an NBA pace, and that’s fine as long as they win now and then.

“It’s good for us,” Brown basketball coach Jesse Agel said Sunday, after his Bears had played their fifth game in 10 days, part of a challenging 11-games-in-22-days schedule that started on Nov. 13 and will end Dec.7.

He was smiling as he scanned the box score because Brown had just defeated Maine, 75-62, before 797 spectators at the Pizzitola Sports Center. The Bears improved to 2-3, and the Black Bears dropped to 2-2.

Brown took the court 41 hours after losing at St. John’s, 79-76. The Bears will have two days to rest and practice before they visit Bryant on Wednesday afternoon at 4. After some turkey on Thanksgiving Day, they will hit the road for Philadelphia and the Philly Hoop Group Classic. They will play Philadelphia Sciences on Friday afternoon and Siena on Saturday afternoon.

Their last home game before the semester break will be Dec. 2 against Holy Cross. They will fly to Minnesota for a Dec. 5 matinee and play Providence at The Dunk on Dec. 7. Then they will break for exams and Christmas.

“It’s been tough,” senior Matt Mullery said. “This was our third game in five days. We had a real close game against St. John’s. We were right there. We got another game in three days. Physically it’s tough, but I think we’re going about it pretty well. I think it’s going to get us ready for the Ivy season, when you got back-to-back games, which is tougher.”

Agel said he doesn’t talk about the schedule except for the next game. Preparation is different because of so little practice time.

“Our kids are in good shape,” he said, “and they want to be good.”

They were good enough to build a 17-10 lead against Maine and rally from a 30-23 deficit with a 9-0 run for a 32-30 lead before Maine scored two baskets in the last minute for a 34-32 halftime advantage.

And they were good enough in the second half to start burying 3-point shots, four in a row during a two-minute run for a 50-45 lead, and good enough to sink free throws, six in a row from Steve Gruber in the last minute, to push to final margin of victory to 13 points.

“We’re a resilient team, and we have a tough group of young guys. I’m really pleased with the way they came out in the second half,” Mullery said.

A 6-8 forward, Mullery led all scorers with 24 points, most from in the paint but three on a long shot from beyond the key.

“I’m most comfortable around the basket, but in my time here it’s been necessary for me to step out and become a threat from out there,” the senior said. “It just opens everything else for everyone else. It really helps us, I think, when I can make shots from the outside.”

Peter Sullivan can make shots from outside. He sank four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points. Freshman Andrew McCarthy added 10 points and 6 rebounds to the effort. Freshman point guard Matt Sullivan, Peter’s brother, finished with eight points, four rebounds and three assists. And freshman Tucker Halpern added five rebounds and six assists.

“The freshmen are playing well. They’re very talented. The three that are in the rotation I’m very pleased with. They have a quick learning curve. They’re picking up stuff very fast. You love to see that from your freshmen. The most you can really ask is consistency from the young guys. So far they’ve done a great job, I think, knowing what we’re going to expect from them night in and night out,” Mullery said.

A fourth freshman, Tyler Ponticelli, is injured.

Junior Bernal scored 18 points, and Sean McNally had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Maine. The Black Bears won the battle of the boards, 40-34, but the Bears won the battle of the treys, 27-18 (points). >

mszostak@projo.com