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Towson Tigers  Belmont Bruins  

Game #8-072: Towson Tigers vs. Belmont Bruins November 19, 2011 3:30 pm Murfreesboro, TN BBState Stats/Recap

Traffic is frustrating everywhere - but the steering-wheel-gripping angst is even worse in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on a Saturday afternoon.

Most people are surprised to hear that, according to the latest Census, Rutherford County (where the 'Boro is located) is home to more than 260,000 residents - that's a 40 percent increase from a decade ago.

And alas, developers moved in and every self-respecting American retail corporation targeted Murfreesboro as a good place to make money. The result is the overblown Stones River Mall area - which lacks the transportation infrastructure demanded by an influx of non-mom-and-pop stores.

So, there I sat, in a stream of red lights as the 2:30 tip time for Belmont vs. Towson at Middle Tennessee State University's Murphy Center quickly approached. (Unfortunately, my Ford Focus ZTW station wagon didn't come with a "flight" function.)

When I finally reached the Murphy Center, I spent an additional 10 minutes looking for parking, thanks to a Sun Belt pigskin game happening nearby.

As a former sportzwriter, I remember a mentor saying "When was the last time a game was decided after the first four minutes?" Well, never. But for some reason, there was still a pit in my stomach when I reached the stadium at 2:45 p.m., with 15:47 left in the first half.

At that point, Belmont and Towson were neck-and-neck, as the Bruins led 8-6. But my sheer presence surely elevated the play of my alma mater. Or maybe it was an adjustment longtime Belmont coach Rick Byrd made.

Either way, I didn't see Belmont turn the ball over. Not once.

For the remaining 35 minutes of game time, the Bruins outscored Towson, 79-35 - using their signature full-court pressure to force 23 Towson turnovers.

In addition, the Tigers only made a hair more than a quarter of their shots - despite out-rebounding the Bruins, 46-36.

After a while, Towson players were caught turning their palms to the ceiling and shrugging both shoulders - looking for direction from first-year head coach Pat Skerry.

On the other end, Belmont looked crisp - finding open shots and knocking them down. The crowd of Bruin fans that made the trip from Nashville - all scattered throughout the arena - mildly applauded each bucket.

But Towson's youth might provide an explanation to the 87-41 blowout: they started one senior and a combo of sophomores and freshman.

And as Coach Skerry probably knows: Putting a young team on the floor against a veteran squad that won 30 games last year can be frustrating.

Kind of like sitting in Murfreesboro traffic.

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