Hawaii assistant coach Scott Fisher let out a sigh of relief.

When UC Santa Barbara center Alan Williams uncorked a 39-point onslaught against South Dakota State on Nov. 29, the junior missed some late free throws that would have set the Gauchos’ single-game scoring record — and taken that title from Fisher.

"I missed mine (free throws) on my day, so we both got stuck on 39," said a smiling Fisher, who did it in 1985 at Montana State. "But I wouldn’t be surprised if he breaks it sometime in the next year or a bit."

It’s been that kind of season for Williams, the frontrunner for Big West Player of the Year. Big nights for Big Al are becoming routine, as he’s scored more than 25 points in each of the past three games, abusing opponents down low despite his relatively small (6-foot-7) stature.

UH will try to put a halt to that in a key showdown with the Gauchos tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center. If the Rainbow Warriors can gain a game on co-leader UCSB at the league’s midpoint, they’ll move to 2-1 on their four-game homestand and remain in striking distance of first.

It will be no small feat. Williams is seventh nationally in both points (23.3) and rebounds (11.1) and is the reigning league player of the week, a distinction he’s earned four times already in 2013-14.

"We knew he had good feet and great hands when we recruited him," 16th-year UCSB coach Bob Williams said. "What we didn’t see — and I don’t think anybody saw out of him, obviously nobody did or he’d have been recruited at a much higher level — is how good he is offensively. He’s a special player on both ends of the floor. … He’s definitely the best big man I’ve ever had. And it’s going to be a great matchup to watch him and (Isaac) Fotu play each other."

Fotu, Hawaii’s undersized 6-7 center, relishes the prospect of going against another polished low-post player. Fotu has been on a tear of his own in Big West play; he is fourth in the league in those contests at 18.7 points per game.

"I’ve seen some of him in scout," said Fotu, who is sixth nationally in field-goal percentage (.622). "I’m excited to go up against a guy like that. Excited to see what he has to offer, and I’ll show him what I have to offer. I think it’ll be two good post players going at it."

UH coach Gib Arnold called Williams "probably the best player in the conference" and said he considered UCSB "in the driver’s seat right now."

The ‘Bows have never been big on double-teaming opponents’ go-to guys, but Williams might command that type of look. His jump hook from the right block is especially deadly.

"We’ll probably have to zone ’em a little bit and shrink the floor, because he’s so good in there, even against double teams," Arnold said. "You gotta show a little bit of zone and be prepared to double when you’re in man-to-man."

Fisher said Williams is adept at using his long arms and low center of gravity to get rebounds over taller players. His 27-point, 20-rebound game in a win over UC Davis last Saturday was the Gauchos’ first 20-20 game in 24 years. In nonconference play, he led his team to rare wins over Cal and UNLV.

"There’s absolutely appreciation anytime I see a guy doing what he does, and I do have a unique fondness for UC Santa Barbara, having been there," said Fisher, a member of UCSB’s hall of fame. "The numbers Alan Williams is putting up is really the best in the West Coast. He’s arguably one of the best players in the Western United States right now. And he’s not doing it on a team of stiffs."

That’s true — it’s not all about Williams. Guard Kyle Boswell, the reigning Big West Sixth Man of the Year, became the third Gaucho with 200 career 3-pointers in the 82-67 win over UC Davis. His reliable range is said to extend to up to 30 feet.

Michael Bryson is another capable scorer at 10.4 ppg and point guard Zalmico Harmon is the Big West assists leader at 5.2 per game.

Hawaii’s point guard, Keith Shamburger, spent the bulk of the time back with the first team in Wednesday’s practice. He’s expected to regain his starting job after being benched in favor of Quincy Smith for the first half of UH’s 77-63 home win over Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

Williams did not play in UH’s win at UCSB last season, in which Christian Standhardinger had a career night of 31 points and 16 rebounds. Williams appeared in the teams’ return game in Honolulu on Feb. 28, notching 14 points and nine boards, but the ‘Bows managed to sweep the season series with a 70-66 win.

Standhardinger (17.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg) was limited at practice this week with an illness, as was reserve Aaron Valdes, but both practiced on Wednesday.

Note

The game is "Retro Aloha Shirt Night." The UH student with the craziest, ugliest or most colorful aloha shirt wins a prize. Other fans are also encouraged to participate in the theme.