UCSB’s Alan Williams
IRVINE – Posting his eighth and ninth double-doubles of the season, junior Alan Williams (Phoenix, Ariz./North HS) led UC Santa Barbara to a pair of victories as the Big West Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.
It was the fourth Player of the Week award in 2013-14 for Williams, one of just 10 players in Big West history with that many citations in one season.
Williams averaged 26.5 points, 15.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in a monstrous week of production. His efforts helped the Gauchos to double-digit victories over UC Irvine (80-60) and UC Davis (82-67).
“Alan is amazingly productive and he is getting rewarded,” said UCSB head coach Bob Williams. “He was already being recognized nationally, but 20 rebounds in a game really makes you take notice.”
Against UCI’s 7-foot-6 freshman Mamadou Ndiaye, Williams posted 26 points on 10 of 17 shooting, and added 10 rebounds.
Williams bettered that effort against UC Davis, exploding for 27 points, 20 rebounds and a career-high tying four assists. He was the first Gaucho in 24 years to record 20 or more points and 20 or more rebounds in a game. The 6-foot-7 center also became the first Big West player to collect 20 caroms in a game since Cal State Fullerton’s Omonde Amoki on Mar. 8, 2012.
Williams is second in the conference with nine double-doubles. He has recorded 20 or more points in four straight games and has 14 such performances this year.
Michael Bryson has been named Player of the Week twice this season, giving UCSB six honorees.
The Gauchos return to the court on Thursday, Feb. 6 when they travel to Hawai’i for a 9:00 p.m. game (PST) against the Rainbows.
