UC Santa Barbara senior Alan Williams (Phoenix, Ariz./North HS) earned the initial Big West Men’s Basketball Player of the Week award for the 2014-15 season as he delivered a double-double on the road against No. 5 Kansas.
Williams posted 22 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots in the Gauchos’ hard fought 69-59 season-opening loss at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday. He shot nine of 18 from the field and four of six at the free throw line while adding a pair of assists in 35 minutes.
It was the 34th double-double of his career for Williams, who helped the Gauchos whittle their deficit to as little as two points midway through the second half.
Williams earned his ninth career Player of the Week citation, giving him sole ownership of the Big West record. He entered the season alongside former UC Irvine great Jerry Green with a record-tying eight awards.
Others nominated: Reese Morgan (Cal Poly); Stephen Maxwell (CSUN); Mike Caffey (Long Beach State); Josh Ritchart (UC Davis); Alex Young (UC Irvine); Jaylen Bland (UC Riverside); Negus Webster-Chan (Hawai‘i)