Nick Perkins is a big guy with a big personality who seems to always stand out from the crowd.

He needed to, growing up in Michigan as the second youngest of eight, with two sisters and three brothers being joined by two more sisters through marriage.

"Coming from a big family, it gives you a competitive nature. That competitive spirit's within you because there's so many of you, you have to learn to stick up for yourself and it was like that in my household. So I think I brought that to my game of basketball. Obviously I'm kind of an intense guy at times and I think I got that from my family,” he said.

Perkins also learned the key basketball trait of being unselfish.

"A lot of people they don't have that many siblings so they get things a lot by themselves. In my household we had to share a lot of things. We weren't as fortunate as a lot of families so we had to share a lot of stuff. I think that taught me about team — the real meaning of family and being able to sacrifice for people that you love,” he said.

Perkins has played in more games than anyone in UB hoops history, yet started less than a quarter of them, serving as the Bulls sixth man. It's odd territory for a guy who will finish his career top-five in program history in points, rebounds, and field goals made — but that selflessness is just how he was raised."

"Perk's great at it. His attitude's great and he's a team guy and he's whatever's best for the team. I know down deep he'd probably rather start, but we've talked. He's a great teammate,” said head coach Nate Oats.

"Me coming off the bench, it's not a big deal to me. Some people say, 'Perk, you might be one of the best players on the team, but you come off the bench.' It really doesn't matter. It really doesn't matter. I think it prepared me a lot for being able to go through adversity and still prevail,” said Perkins.

Perkins has prevailed as the two-time reigning MAC Sixth Man of the Year and front-runner for a three-peat. He’s having success thanks to those at UB and those family members who continue to keep their little brother in line, even from afar.

"I think it's a totally different perspective because Oats is obviously a basketball coach and he sees a lot. He can tell when you're not doing this or you're not doing this well. But coming from my sister, who has some basketball experience, but not that much. So if she can see it that means anybody can see it. And my brothers, obviously they played basketball so they know the game. Just coming from family so I know I really need to get on my game,” said Perkins.

Competitive yet unselfish game: the Perkins family way.