LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Indiana All-Stars were shaky from three-point range. Fortunately, they had Colt Ryan. While his teammates hit only 8 of their 46 three-point attempts, the University of Evansville recruit drained 6 of 12 to help the Hoosiers sweep their annual series from the Kentucky All-Stars.
Ryan finished as Indiana's second leading scorer, totaling 12 points in Saturday's 78-65 win at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, and nine in Sunday's 64-49 victory at Louisville. Indianapolis Cathedral's Errick Peck led all Indiana scorers with 16 in game one and 14 Sunday. It was the fourth time in the past five years that Indiana swept the Kentucky all-stars, extending their record in the longtime series to 81-42.
Ryan scored all 12 of his points Saturday in the second half, including nine during a 22-3 run that helped Indiana overcome a 37-35 halftime deficit.
"I think for the entire week we've been a really solid basketball team when he's on the floor," Wood told the Evansville Courier & Press's Drew Bruno about Ryan. "He's a guy that when he's scoring points he's really, really good, but when he's not scoring points he still does positive things for this basketball team."
Ryan finished with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in addition to his 12 points in Saturday's win. On Sunday, Ryan and Purdue recruit D.J. Byrd spent much of their time guarding Kentucky Mr. Basketball Jon Hood, and helped hold him to 2-for-12 shooting and eight points in Indiana's 15-point win. Ryan also had six rebounds.
The 6'4" Ryan finished fourth in the state in scoring at Batesville High School last winter with a 25.6 scoring average. Now he's on his way to the University of Evansville later this month, where he will begin classes and meet up with 13 new teammates on coach Marty Simmons' 2009-10 squad. Ryan will be one of seven new players, joining seven veterans from a team that produced a 17-14 record and Evansville's first post-season appearance (CollegeInsider.com Post-Season Tourney) since 1999.