UC Santa Barbara freshman James Nunnally (San Jose, Calif./Weston Ranch HS) was selected Big West Men's Basketball Player of the Week after hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Gauchos a 76-75 win against Long Beach State and the No. 4 seed in the Big West Tournament.
   
The 6-5 guard averaged 17.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in a pair of Gaucho victories that lifted UCSB from eighth place entering the week into a tie for fourth.  Nunnally did most of his damage against the 49ers in the second half, when he scored 17 of his 20 points to help the Gauchos overcome an eight-point deficit.  The three-pointer as time expired not only propelled UCSB to its seventh win in the last eight games, but prevented the Gauchos from having to play a first round game in the Big West Tournament.  Instead, UCSB earned a bye to the quarterfinals.
   
Nunnally began the week with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 66-53 victory against UC Riverside.  He hit 5 of 7 shots, including 3 of 3 from three-point range.  His four assists tied a career-high.
   
For the week, Nunnally shot 64.7% overall (11 of 17) and 66.7% (6 of 9) from long distance.

Others nominated: Eric Wise (UC Irvine); Chad Troyer (Pacific)