Colt Ryan should get Creighton's vote for freshman of the year in the Missouri Valley Conference.

In two games against the Bluejays this season, the 6-foot-5 guard from Batesville, Ind., scored 57 points. He established his career high with 26 points against the Bluejays in a Jan. 3 loss.

He bettered that Wednesday night with 31 in Evansville's 84-71 loss at Qwest Center Omaha.

“He hit shots at their place, he hit shots tonight,'' Creighton coach Dana Altman said. “He knows where he wants to take it, he knows when he wants to get a shot.

“He's a good offensive player, and he's going to be a pain for three more years.''

Ryan made 10 of 20 shots from the field Wednesday, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range. In the two games against Creighton, he shot 50 percent (18 of 36) from the field and 55 percent (11 of 20) from beyond the arc.

“That's where it all starts for him,'' Altman said.

Ryan, who needs 21 points to break the school scoring record by a freshman, increased his scoring average to 15.6, second in the Valley. He also leads the league in minutes played at 35.5 per game.

Eleven of his points came in the final 1:15, long after Wednesday's game was decided. It was his play at the start of the game that delighted coach Marty Simmons: It helped Evansville build a six-point halftime lead.

“I thought our guys did a good job of setting screens for him, and he did a really good job of making cuts in the first half,'' Simmons said. “We played with more poise and sustained our half-court offense much better in the first half than in the second.''

Focus on Lawson helps teammates

Kenny Lawson took just three shots and scored only four points, but Altman said the 6-9 junior center played a key role in Creighton's school-record shooting night.

The Bluejays made 66.7 percent of their field-goal attempts.

“They gave a lot of attention to Kenny tonight,'' Altman said, “and it really allowed us to get some good looks.''

Lawson scored 18 points and had 11 rebounds in the 72-64 win at Evansville.

“We tried to limit his catches, and that's easier said than done,'' Simmons said. “We tried to switch it up, but he's very poised and he did a good job of passing out of the double teams.

“They're an unselfish team and made a lot of good plays.''

P'Allen watches from bench

Guard P'Allen Stinnett was in street clothes and watched from the bench Wednesday night, the first time he's been with the team since being suspended Jan. 25.

“He's still part of the team,'' forward Justin Carter said. “He's still hungry to come back, and Coach just wanted him to be around the team.''

Bits and pieces

Wednesday marked the first time Creighton shot better than 50 percent from the field since last Valentine's Day, when the Bluejays shot 56.9 percent in an 82-60 win over Southern Illinois. ... Creighton improved to 10-1 at home, marking its 14th straight season with at least 10 home wins.

— Steven Pivovar

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