nounced.Tate played for the Bengals from 2011 to 2015 and

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.Paul Millsap Nuggets Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Jamal Murray Nuggets Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. http://www.nuggetsprostore.com/kids-paul-millsap-nuggets-jersey/ . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Nikola Jokic Jersey . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Custom Denver Nuggets Jerseys . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display.The Cincinnati Bengals released leading punt returner Brandon Tate on Tuesday prior to the mandatory cut to 75 players, the team announced.Tate played for the Bengals from 2011 to 2015 and had a franchise-leading 1,415 yards on 154 punt returns. He also was second in franchise history with 3,517 yards on 145 kickoff returns.We have to make the decisions we feel are best for the team, but sometimes they are tough ones, coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement. Brandon has been a tremendous pro and a big part of the success our team has had the last five years. We wish him the very best.Tate never became a regulaar in the receiving lineup, however, and caught just two passes for 59 yards last season.dddddddddddd In five seasons, he caught 57 passes for 901 yards and six touchdowns.His release likely paves the way for rookie Alex Erickson, who had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown in the preseason and is the likely kick returner moving forward.The Bengals waived/injured Mario Alford, placed Andrew Billings on IR and put Brandon Thompson on regular-season PUP to get down to 75 players. ' ' '