CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Coming off a 2-0 week for Upstate Men's Basketball, the Big South Conference announced weekly awards where the Spartans were featured with Mason Bendinger being announced as the Big South Co-Player of the Week. 

The Junior from Salt Lake City, Utah averaged 21.0 points through both games played through the week of Dec. 1- Dec. 6 where he added his career-high of 27 points shooting 7-for-16 from the field and a career-high of 12 made free throws in the overtime win against Coastal Carolina. Bendinger's three-pointer and layup under the 10-minute mark nearly exploded the roof off the G.B. Hodge Center helping the Spartans tie the game against the Chants with the momentum ultimately carrying Upstate through the second half and finishing the job in overtime. Bendinger followed up with a 15-point performance in Saturday's win against Western Carolina shooting 5-for-9 from the field, 5-for-7 from the charity stripe, added a season-high of six rebounds and one block. Mason Bendinger is currently ranked #7 in the Big South, averaging 16.1 points per game while being ranked #15 in the NCAA with 70 field goals scored. Through 11 games played, Bendinger has scored in double figures through 10 games played while adding three 20+ point performances and six 15+ point performances. Bendinger has continued to become more accustomed to Division I Basketball along with finding his footing in the Marty Richter system with three-level scoring that he provides on a nightly basis. This marks the first weekly honor for Bendinger as he continues to grow with Upstate.  

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