GREELEY, Colo. (Interstat) — A critical Big Sky Conference men’s basketball matchup featuring two of the league’s hottest teams and most dynamic guards will tip off Saturday when the Portland State Vikings visit the Northern Colorado Bears. The game at Butler-Hancock Athletic Center pits the conference-leading Vikings (17-6, 10-1 Big Sky) against a surging Bears squad (16-10, 8-4) that has won five of its last six. Portland State enters on an eight-game winning streak, its lone conference loss coming Jan. 29. The spotlight will be on the backcourt, where Portland State’s Jaylin Henderson and Northern Colorado’s Quinn Denker are playing at an elite level. Henderson, a consistent force, is averaging 17.1 points and 5.6 assists in conference play. He scored 24 points in Thursday’s 77-68 win at Northern Arizona. Denker, however, is coming off a historic performance. In Thursday’s 95-79 rout of Sacramento State, the guard recorded 22 points and a staggering 16 assists. Over his last five games, Denker is averaging 24.2 points and 10.4 assists, cementing his status as a conference Player of the Year candidate. The Vikings won the first meeting 76-73 in Portland on Jan. 15, a game that featured 15 lead changes. Containing Denker, who had 19 points and nine assists in that contest, will be a primary focus for Portland State’s defense. Northern Colorado’s offense, averaging 88.5 points during its current hot stretch, will test a Viking defense that has held eight consecutive opponents under 70 points. Portland State’s balance was on display Thursday, with Terri Miller adding 27 points alongside Henderson’s output. With the Bears sitting in third place in the standings, a home win would solidify their position and avenging the earlier loss. For Portland State, a road victory would further strengthen its grip on first place as the regular season enters its final weeks.