UC Santa Barbara sophomore guard James Powell (Pomona, Calif./Glendora HS) and Cal State Northridge junior Tremaine Townsend (Phoenix, Ariz./Saddleback JC) were named Big West Men's Basketball Co-Players of the Week as both players posted solid efforts in leading their teams to victory.

Powell drained the game-winning three-pointer with less than half a second remaining as UCSB defeated UNLV, 63-60 on Tuesday.  Powell scored all 15 of his points in the second half on three-pointers, setting a career high with his five threes.  He added four rebounds, three assists and two steals as the Gauchos downed UNLV for the second consecutive year.

In a 63-56 win at Loyola Marymount, Powell hit 2 of 5 from three-point land for 11 points, and contributed season-highs in rebounds (6) and assists (5).  For the week, Powell made 50.0% (7 of 14) of his three-point attempts to help the Gauchos extend their winning streak to five, their longest in five years.
   
Townsend nearly averaged a double-double in helping Cal State Northridge to a 2-1 record for the week.  He recorded his second straight double-double with season highs in points (16) and rebounds (15) to lead the Matadors to a 78-68 victory at Cleveland State on Wednesday.  Townsend then registered 10 points and 10 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double in a 97-74 loss to Duquesne in the first game of the Drake Iowa Realty Tournament.  He finished up the tournament with six points, four rebounds and a pair of steals in a victory over NC Central (69-43) and was named to the all-tournament team.
   
He averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals as he played 90 minutes in a reserve role.

Others nominated: Josh Akognon, Cal State Fullerton; Larry Cunningham, UC Riverside; Chad Troyer, Pacific