NEWS » e for Hunter-Reay.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Steve Pikiell was happier for his team than for himself after getting his first win as Rutgers coach.These guys have worked hard, said Pikiell after Mike Williams scored 17 points in Rutgers 86-57 season-opening win over Division II Molloy Friday night. They played defense and it was a total team (effort). Everyone who came in the game helped us.Pikiell took over for Eddie Jordan after 11 seasons at Stony Brook, where he guided the Seawolves to the NCAA Tournament last season. It was the largest margin of victory for a head coach in their Rutgers debut, and the Knights largest margin of victory in an opener since defeating Bentley, 100-60, in 1975.Deshawn Freeman got his first career double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds with three blocked shots for the Scarlet Knights (1-0).Its been a while, said Freeman, who red-shirted after seven games last year. To be back playing is really exciting. Especially to get a win. It felt good.Transfers Nigel Johnson (Kansas State) and CJ Gettys (UNC-Wilmington) added 11 points and six rebounds in their Rutgers debuts.Charlie Marquardt, the coachs son, had 19 points for Molloy (0-1), while Jaylen Morris added 13.Rutgers took a 9-0 lead that it never relinquished. Molloy got within five early in the second half and trailed 52-46 before the Scarlet Knights scored 18 straight to break it open.I think when we got it to five we ran out of gas, Molloy coach Charles Marquardt said. But with 12 minutes left its five, what more can I ask for?BIG PICTUREMolloy: Despite the loss, playing tough against a Big Ten opponent was a positive experience for a young team that includes five freshmen and just two holdover seniors.Rutgers: The return of Freeman is a huge boost to the Knights frontcourt. After transferring from junior college, Freeman injured his knee -- and was granted a medical redshirt -- while averaging 13.1 points and 5.3 rebounds last season.BENCH BOOSTWilliams came off the bench and hit 5-of-8 3-pointers, as Rutgers reserves scored exactly half of the Knights points. I have to give credit to my teammates, Williams said. They believe in me and know what Im capable of. They gave it to me in my sweet spot and I was able to knock them down.LONG ISLAND SUPPORTLike Stony Brook, Molloy is located on Long Island. Although the schools never met when Pikiell coached the Seawolves, Marquardt feels he can turn Rutgers around. I think hes going to be great, he said. Hes got skills, hes got guys that can knock down shots and tremendous size.GOAL METPikiell said one of his teams goals is to hold teams under 40 percent shooting, which Rutgers did in limiting Molloy to 38 percent.UP NEXTMolloy: The Lions will see how well conditioned they are as they play the College of St. Rose on Saturday and face LeMoyne Sunday in the College of Saint Rose Tipoff Classic.Rutgers: After a day off, Rutgers hosts Drexel Sunday afternoon as Pikiell attempts to become the first coach to start 2-0 in his first season at Rutgers since Bob Wenzel in 1988.Adidas NMD City Sock Suomi . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Adidas NMD Kengät Ale . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. http://www.nmdhalvalla.com/adidas-deerupt-halvalla.html . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Adidas Eqt Ale . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Adidas NMD Ale . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3.SEARS POINT, Calif. -- Ryan Hunter-Reay left the last Verizon IndyCar Series race at Watkins Glen International on Sept. 4 having just learned that his title sponsor DHL was on the brink of signing a contract extension through the 2020 season with Andretti Autosport. It was great news.Since then:? He and his wife Beccy welcomed a third child to their Florida home, a healthy baby boy named Rhodes, on Wednesday.? Later the same day, Beccys father, Bob Gordon, and his wife perished in what Orange County (Calif.) police are calling a murder-suicide.? Friday was Beccys birthday. Thats the same day Ryan went back to work, stepping into his No. 28 DHL Honda Indy car across the country at Sonoma Raceway to practice for the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma.? Sunday afternoon, Hunter-Reay and the Andretti Autosport team signed the contract extension and made the news public.Few people have experienced the wide spectrum of emotions that have affected Hunter-Reay over the past few days, yet once strapped into his bright yellow race car at Sonoma, he was at his level-headed best.In a season when most Honda cars have struggled for qualifying speed on road courses, Hunter-Reay advanced to the Firestone Fast Six for only the third time this year.While he understandably misses his wife and family, being in the company of his extended work family has brought the driver comfort at a difficult time.Absolutely, Hunter-Reay said Sunday, speaking to a small group of reporters after the media conference to announce his contract extension.Especially to be surrounded by a group of people I work so well with. They feel like family; theyre my friends. I know this is not about me, but being here is what everyone wanted and it has been a great bit of relief.Nothing can really prepare you for any of it, but on the professional side, things are going in the right direction and todays announcement is great news, he added. Im very happy about this and obviously its been a lot of highs and some lows. Its just been a wild ride for the past week and a half.Hunter-Reay has been though his share of professional stress and strife. After winning an Indy car race as a rookie in 2003 in the Champ Car World Series, he struggled to maintain a foothold in the sport over the next few years.He caught a break when Rahal Letterman Racing signed him in mid-2007, but even though he won a race, that ride fell through when the sponsor pulled out of racing and he faced several winters of uncertainty.Michael Andretti scraped together enough backing to sign Hunter-Reay to a three-race deal at the start of 2011, and once again, RHR came through by posting a win at Long Beach in his third start. The Andretti/Hunter-Reay combination has been together ever since, with DHL signing on as title sponsor in 2012.Now the most experienced American driver in the IndyCar Series is contracted for three years as opposed to three races.I was on the brink there in 2006-07, Hunter-Reay admitted. I was maybe a month or two away from going and doing something else with my life when Bobby Rahal gave me the chance at Rahal Letterman. Every time I got in the car I knew I had to prove myself immediately because it wasnt going to be a two-year deal where I could just take my time to develop.dddddddddddd.That fighting mentality was instilled at that time, when I was given opportunities and not a lot of time to prove myself.Beccy was a big part of Ryans support network in those tough times, and now the couple are established in the fabric of the IndyCar Series. Having grown up in a racing family (Bob Gordon was a well-known off-road racer, and brother Robby is a former Indy car and NASCAR star), she understands why it was so important for Ryan to get back into his work environment this weekend.That didnt make it any easier for Ryan.Beccy is doing amazing, Ryan said. Shes strong, and focusing on a newborn baby has been a blessing at this time. Its amazing how strong she is, how strong Robby has been, and her sisters Robyn and Hailey. Its blown me away because this is nothing you can prepare for. This isnt as simple as a life passing.Team owner Michael Andretti had no doubt that Hunter-Reay would be in the car this weekend. As a former driver, Michael knows that being in the car is the best sanctuary during emotional times for a racer.Michael famously continued competing in the 1992 Indianapolis 500 after his father Mario and brother Jeff were both hospitalized with significant leg injuries from crashes.Hes a professional, Andretti said. He even made the comment that hes so happy to be here at the racetrack and getting back in the car because hes able to just focus on that. Thats the best medicine. I know how he feels; Ive been there where I had to focus when there were outside things. It was always good to get in and just do your job and I know thats the way it is with him.I truly believe hes one of the best and its very important to have a talent like him on your team, Andretti added. Now hes got stability as well and thats huge. Its big for him, its big for us, its big for the team itself.Now in the most secure position of his career, its likely that the best is yet to come for Hunter-Reay. Hes won 16 races and the 2012 championship, making him the most successful American driver currently competing in the IndyCar Series, and at age 35, hes just hitting his prime.Hes the lead driver for Hondas flagship Indy car team, putting him in prime position to capitalize if the manufacturer can gain the upper hand over its competition from Chevrolet.And even though he has been put through a world of worry in the last week, the next four years look pretty much care-free.To not stress about a contract, I cant tell you how beneficial it is to the racing side, Hunter-Reay said. You dont have to think about the pressure involved in that. You can just go out there and put everything on the line and you know that if you over step the edge or if you try to make that pass and it doesnt work out, its not going to blow back on you.I know when we get this program sorted, were going to contend for championships. ' ' '