A storybook season got another chapter Monday.
Oregon State senior guard Gary Payton II has earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row, the league announced. He was also named to the All-Pac-12, All-Defensive first teams earlier in the day.
"Like last year, it's these guys behind me," Payton said Monday before practice. "Put me in the right spot, talk and communicate. Just chemistry all through the program."
Payton II became the third player in school history to win the honor last season.