A big game against a top opponent brought a fitting reward the way of Jaylin Henderson today as the Portland State guard was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week.
 
Henderson scored a game-high 21 points with career-highs of seven rebounds and seven assists in last Saturday's Vikings win over Northern Colorado, 82-71. The Bears entered Viking Pavilion in first place in the Big Sky, but left in second place with a loss.
 
Henderson, a 6-3 senior from Wichita, KS, had one of his best games of the season against the Bears, and in the Vikings' two wins last week he averaged 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocked shots. Those victories moved PSU to 16-10 on the season, 8-5 and third place in the Big Sky.
 
For the season, Henderson leads the Vikings in scoring at 14.0 points per game - 10th-best in the Big Sky. He also has a team-high 48 three-point field goals, averages 3.6 rebounds, has 47 assists, 37 steals and 16 blocked shots.
 
Henderson had a season-high 31 points earlier this season in a win over Idaho State. A high-flying athlete, he has 30 dunks this season for a Viking team that already has a school-record 110 slams.
 
This is the first Big Sky Player of the Week honor for Henderson and the first by a Viking in two seasons.
 
The Vikings continue Big Sky Conference play this week on the road with games at Idaho State (Thursday) and Weber State (Saturday). PSU returns home on Feb. 27 to face Montana State at Viking Pavilion.