going 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts, recording 24 strikeouts

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell got exactly the kind of performance he insists on from his reserves.Ive never been a starter guy, Pikiell said after Rutgers defeated Niagara 78-65 on Sunday in the Scarlet Knight Showcase. I like the finishers. Thats important to me. The way I coach, you gotta be ready.Nigel Johnson led the reserves, equaling a career high with 20 points in helping Rutgers go 4-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 season. The Knights bench outscored Niagara 42-3.Other non-starter contributors were Mike Williams (12 points), CJ Gettys (eight points and eight rebounds), Eugene Omoruyi (six points, four rebounds and two assists) and Candido Sanders (four blocks).With Rutgers trailing 42-41, Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 14:32 remaining for the third and final lead change. The Knights scored 16 straight for a 57-42 lead, and opened their biggest advantage at 70-51.After we went on that run we created a little distance in our lead, Johnson said. I felt like we did a good job closing the game and that was what we were focused on.Matt Scott had 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Purple Eagles, who are 0-4 for the first time since starting with six straight losses in the 1989-90 season. Kahlil Dukes had 12 points and Marvin Prochet 11.If youre around (Scott) every day, you just watch how hes blossoming, Niagara coach Chris Casey said. Its fun to watch. Hes blossoming as a player, as a person, as a student. His work ethic is off the charts.BIG PICTURENiagara: The Purple Eagles held a 65-44 advantage in bench points in the first three games. The Eagles blocked nine shots, which equaled their combined total in the first three games.Rutgers: Pikiell became the first Scarlet Knights mens coach to begin his tenure 4-0 and Rutgers defense has been a major reason. Rutgers has allowed an average of 61.7 points per game and opponents are shooting 36.3 percent (84 of 231) against the Knights. Rutgers blocked 11 Purple Eagles shots. Rutgers has won four straight for the first time since 2012-13 when it won five in a row in December.PURPLE POSITIVESCollins felt his young team did some things out of character during Rutgers decisive run, but was still happy with the way it continues to battle. I thought our guys competed extremely hard, I thought we did some very good things in the game, and weve got to use this to build on, move forward onto the next game.DOWNPLAYING STARTEntering Sundays game, the record of Rutgers first four opponents was a combined 2-9. To Pikiells credit, he is not getting carried away with his start. Asked the significance of 4-0, the coach said Nothing. We have to start working for the next game, these guys know we have a long week ahead of us.TECHNICALITIESThere were four technical fouls called, three on Rutgers with two of them on point guard Corey Sanders, who was ejected with 7:01 left.WELCOME TO NJThe Purple Hawks made their first appearance at Rutgers. Niagara won the only other meeting between the two, 73-61, on Dec. 18, 1969.UP NEXTNiagara: After three straight on the road, the Purple Eagles have their first home game since opening-night when they host Drexel on Wednesday.Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights host North Texas Wednesday and will attempt to start 5-0 for the first time since 2000-01, when they opened the season with six straight home games. Nike Air Vapormax Outlet . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Cheap Nike Air Vapormax . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. https://www.fakevapormaxwholesale.com/ . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Nike Air Vapormax Sale . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Clearance Nike Air Vapormax . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. HOUSTON -- Despite their injury-ravaged pitching staff suffering another blow this week, the Los Angeles Angels continue to build on the momentum they established prior to the All-Star Game break when they won five times during a 10-game swing through Tampa, Boston and Baltimore.Having lost right-hander Garrett Richards and left-hander Andrew Heaney to torn ulnar collateral ligaments earlier this season, the Angels discovered that right-hander Nick Tropeano suffered the same injury on July 18 and will likely require season-ending Tommy John surgery.Yet despite these tribulations, the Angels (43-52) have won 10 of 12 games and completed a 6-0 homestand with a 7-4 win over the Rangers on Wednesday night. After surrendering just one run in a three-game sweep of the White Sox, the Angles used their offense to bludgeon Texas, earning a second consecutive sweep despite allowing 15 runs.I think were getting contributions from a lot of guys, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of his offense. Our lineup is getting deeper. I think were running the bases better. Our situational hitting has been good. Our on-base percentage over the last month has been terrific.So were getting opportunities, were feeding the guys in the middle (of the lineup). Albert (Pujols) is swinging the bat better (and) getting his RBI shots. Mike (Trout) is doing what he does. I think on the offensive side were doing the things we anticipated doing.The Angels will open a three-game series at Minute Maid Park on Friday night against the Astros, against whom they have dropped eight consecutive games. The good news is that the reigning American League Player of the Week, right-hander Matt Shoemaker, will be on the bump.Shoemaker (5-9, 4.08 ERA) is comingg off his first career shutout, a brilliant 1-0 win over the White Sox in which he registered a career-high 13 strikeouts against six hits and zero walks.dddddddddddd Shoemaker has pitched effectively against the Astros this season, going 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts, recording 24 strikeouts against 20 hits in 21 1/3 innings.The Astros (51-44) will counter with right-hander Lance McCullers (4-4, 3.61 ERA). McCullers has faced the Angels once this season, allowing one run on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings while not factoring in the decision of a 3-2 victory on June 22. McCullers is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in five career starts against the Angels.The Astros capped a 3-3 road trip with a 7-0 win over the Athletics on Wednesday. Shortstop Carlos Correa finished with three walks and three RBI in the victory, continuing his resurgent productivity since claiming the cleanup spot in the batting order.Over the 29 games since he began batting fourth, Correa owns a slash line of .296/.400/.574 with six home runs and 30 RBI. Correa had more than twice as many strikeouts (68) as walks (31) before the move but has almost evened his ratio since with 21 strikeouts against 18 walks.Hitting behind All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve, who is batting .500/.537/.750 against the Angels in 2016, has benefitted Correa.He was very disciplined in some RBI opportunities, which is good to see, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said of Correa to MLB.com. Obviously, behind Altuve, we want him to be really, really productive because theres a lot times guys arent going to pitch to him. ' ' '