The three All-Conference seniors on Portland State's Basketball team have become well-known around the Big Sky Conference and the city of Portland. But take note, there is another unsung hero who keeps turning in excellent performances for the Vikings. Keyon Kensie Jr. had one of those games in a Saturday win at Sacramento State, and has been named Big Sky Conference co-Player of the Week.
 
Kensie was a key player in the Vikings' comeback win over the Hornets, 74-73, as PSU maintained its perfect Big Sky road record. The junior guard scored 14 points, grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds, made two steals and a game-saving blocked shot with one second left to help Portland State secure the win. PSU had trailed by 10 points midway through the second half.
 
Kensie actually scored the game-winning basket with 1:50 left in the game, hitting a baby jumper on the baseline off a pass from Terri Miller Jr. That hoop gave PSU a 74-73 lead.
 
PSU forced the Hornets into a pair of missed shots after Kensie's go-ahead bucket. On the second miss, the Vikings had the ball off a Kensie rebound with 40 seconds left. On PSU's possession the ball was knocked out of bounds by the Hornets. But an official review determined it actually went off the Vikings with 19.3 seconds left.

That set up Sacramento State for a potential go-ahead, game-winning basket. PSU's defense flustered the Hornets and they struggled to find an open shot. Finally, Jahni Summers drove the lane into the Viking defense. Kensie swatted away his shot in the middle of the key, the Vikings rebounded and the game was over.
 
Portland State moved to 10-1 in the Big Sky and lead the conference race by 2 ½ games over Montana and Montana State (both 8-4). They have tied a school record with five consecutive Big Sky road wins.
 
Kensie shares his Player of the Week honor with Quinn Denker of Northern Colorado, who averaged 22.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists in two wins last week.
 
This season, Kensie has averaged 11.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He ranks third in the Big Sky in rebounding and has six double-doubles. Kensie is the fourth Viking in six weeks to win a Big Sky Player of the Week honor. He was preceded by the Vikings' three aforementioned seniors: Jaylin Henderson, Jan. 6; Tre-Vaughn Minott, Jan. 13; and Terri Miller Jr., Jan. 27.
 
Portland State (16-6 overall) is on the road again this week, playing at Northern Arizona on Thursday, then Northern Colorado on Saturday. The next Viking home game is Thursday, Feb. 19, against Idaho. That game tips off at 6 p.m. and will be nationally-televised on ESPNU.