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#omgnodunx
December 17, 2011 12:13 pm ET by Pierce Greenberg

Game #8-243: Troy Trojans at Belmont Bruins

December 15, 2011 8:00 pm
Curb Events Center
BBState Stats/Recap
The dunk, the slam, the flush, the rim-rattler.

These are all staples of Hoops Nation vernacular -- and nothing can get a crowd going like a well-timed #omgdunx. That is, unless you're at Belmont.

Legendary Belmont coach Rick Byrd is not a fan of dunks -- not in practice, not in games, not ever. And I guess it kinda sorta makes sense, right? Always go for the two points -- more things can go wrong while trying to elevate over the rim rather than a light tap off the glass.

Over the years, for the most part, Belmont players have obliged with the rule. After closely observing the team for half a decade, a couple of jams stick out: In 2007, a sick put-back dunk by Shane Dansby against Alabama. Then, on the second-to-last evening of 2009, a crowd-silencing Keaton Belcher slam at Allen Fieldhouse against the No. 1 team in the country. Then there was Alex Renfroe -- who would often throw-down on the fast break.

And when a Bruin does slam, Byrd quietly ignores it. But if someone misses a dunk, that's when all manner of wrath and fury pours out of the oft-collected coach. The offending player is usually benched.

On Thursday night, Belmont big man Scott Saunders was battling in the paint with Troy forward Ray Chambers. Saunders, approaching 7 feet, had about six inches on Chambers, and the Trojan was using a little extra physicality to make up for the mismatch.

After a while, Saunders started to get frustrated. With about two-and-a-half minutes left in the half, Saunders received the ball in the post, bent both knees, elevated off the ground, and threw down a monster #omgdunx. (Having watched 90 percent of Belmont's season, I think this is just the second dunk of the year for the entire team.)

Byrd stood with his arms crossed, unimpressed. During the next stoppage of play, Saunders was subbed out.

Belmont cruised in the second half to a 78-55 win.

And even though the no-dunk rule may seem outdated, there's one thing that can't be argued: Byrd's 610 wins -- the 10th highest total among active college coaches.

Perhaps the layups will do.
at BELMONT 78, TROY 55
12/15/2011

TROY 4-5 (0-0) -- W. Weathers 8-15 2-2 18; A. Jones 3-9 0-0 6; J. Wright 2-7 0-3 5; E. Jones 5-9 3-3 15; R. Chambers 3-8 0-1 6; R. Scott 0-5 2-3 2; D. Clark 1-5 0-0 2; T. Owens 0-2 1-2 1; N. Combs 0-1 0-0 0; B. Feldman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-61 8-14 55.
BELMONT 7-3 (2-0) -- D. Hanlen 5-8 0-0 15; I. Clark 5-15 0-0 14; K. Johnson 2-4 3-3 7; J. Mann 6-14 0-0 14; M. Hedgepeth 4-6 0-0 8; B. Baker 1-4 0-0 3; S. Saunders 4-7 1-3 9; B. Jenkins 1-3 0-1 2; A. Barnes 0-1 0-0 0; S. Turner 1-3 0-0 3; R. Chamberlain 1-1 0-0 3; S. Cavera 0-0 0-0 0; C. Lang 0-0 0-0 0; H. Mobley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 4-7 78.

Three-point goals: TROY 3-16 (W. Weathers 0-2; R. Scott 0-3; R. Chambers 0-1; D. Clark 0-2; E. Jones 2-4; J. Wright 1-4), BELM 14-30 (B. Baker 1-1; D. Hanlen 5-7; I. Clark 4-11; R. Chamberlain 1-1; J. Mann 2-7; S. Turner 1-3); Rebounds: TROY 31 (R. Chambers 9), BELM 41 (S. Saunders 10); Assists: TROY 6 (A. Jones 3), BELM 21 (D. Hanlen 5); Total Fouls -- TROY 10, BELM 16; Fouled Out: TROY-None; BELM-None.


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