Funkerstation » nds, and Dillon Avare added 14 points

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Lamarcus Joyner has been playing on a broken toe since the second quarter of the Los Angeles Rams season opener.Although his teammates and coaches are impressed by his resolve, the defensive back simply is determined to hold up his end of the secondary.I knew I had to be accountable to the defense, so I just kept my mouth closed and kept playing, Joyner said Tuesday after practice.Joyner broke the second toe on his left foot during the Rams season-opening loss at San Francisco. He said it felt like his foot fell asleep, and when his toe wouldnt move after his foot woke up, Joyner knew something was wrong.He just didnt tell coach Jeff Fisher or the training staff until the 28-0 loss ended.I just strapped on my cleats and I played, man, Joyner said. I know it was an important game to us. If you just think about 2014, that draft, how Coach Fisher ... gave up a pick for me, all that kind of stuff just ran in my mind. Theyve made a lot of sacrifices for me, so I can fight through something like this.Although an episode of HBOs Hard Knocks captured Joyner suggesting he was seriously contemplating quitting football, the defensive back says he is still devoted to the sport and the Rams: He played extensively in Los Angeles 9-3 win over Seattle last Sunday.After playing 134 of the Rams first 148 defensive snaps with only nine good toes, he intends to be in uniform again this weekend at Tampa Bay.It was nothing that was going to keep him from playing, Fisher said. You can kind of get an appreciation for his commitment to this game and his teammates. Playing through that is not easy.But Joyners toughness isnt a surprise to the Rams.Thats why we drafted him, Fisher said. We watched him for a couple of years there at Florida State, and hes one of those guys. He shows it every day.Joyner might be getting some help soon in the Rams secondary, which is in for a workout from Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers.Cornerback E.J. Gaines is close to returning for his first NFL game since 2014 after participating in practice Tuesday. After missing last season with a foot injury, he has been out since last month with a left thigh injury.Fisher suggested Gaines could even step right into the starting lineup -- and though Gaines has played only 15 NFL games, the Missouri native is eager to add veteran continuity.I think weve been on a roller coaster, Gaines said of the secondary. Made some really good plays and made some bad plays. Weve got to be a lot more consistent out there. I hope we can put it all together in this third regular-season game.A year ago, Gaines was in competition with Trumaine Johnson for the starting cornerback job opposite Janoris Jenkins before getting hurt. While Gaines watched from the sideline, Johnson earned a $13.95 million contract for this season.After Jenkins left for a lavish free-agent deal with the New York Giants, Gaines was the favorite to fill the vacancy before his injury.Los Angeles used second-year free agent Troy Hill extensively against the Seahawks in place of starter Coty Sensabaugh. Hill held up fairly well against repeated targeting by Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.Its anticipated, Hill said. Youve got a proven corner on the other side, and Im just unproven, so Im anticipating that. I expect that every time I go out there.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL 49ers Jerseys 2021 .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. San Francisco 49ers Pro Shop .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. https://www.49ersjerseysale.com/ . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Fake 49ers Jerseys . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Wholesale 49ers Jerseys .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. AUBURN, Ala. -- Mustapha Heron had his first career double-double -- 24 points and 10 rebounds -- Danjel Purifoy scored 16 points, and Auburn beat Eastern Kentucky 85-64 Thursday night in a Cancun Challenge game.Heron shouldered the load, but Auburn needed a team effort to keep its season-opening win streak alive.The Tigers led 10-2 but went cold while Eastern Kentucky (1-2) rallied and stayed ahead until two and a half minutes left in the first half. Purifoy hit a 3-pointer amid a 9-2 run and Auburn led 37-34 at halftime.The Colonels (1-2) closed to within 38-39 early in the second half on Jaylen Babb-Harrisons layup. Auburn pulled away on a 15-2 run and led 65-50 after a free throw by Heron and Eastern Kentucky got no closer.Auburns 34.5 shooting percentage in the first period became a scorching 56.7 percent in the second half as the Tigers broke the game open.Theyre a good team, and you cant give a team like that second- and third-chance opportunities, and thats what we did, Eastern Kentucky coach Dan McHale said. We allowed them to impose their will, and they made us pay.The Tigers (3-0) were by propelled by Heron, a freshman, who connected on all eight of his field goal attempts, but only made seven of his 13 free throws.Auburn outrebounded the Colonels 51-30, but made 25 of 41 free throws (61 percent), which helped Eastern Kentucky stay close for most of the game.I thought that we were obviously, our physicality -- the difference between the OVC and the SEC showed up on the boards, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. And obviously we took advantage of some things. I dont think that our offensive execution is not whhat it needs to be.dddddddddddd Were going to spend some time doing a better job with that.Nick Mayo led the Colonels with 22 points and five rebounds, and Dillon Avare added 14 points.THE TAKEAWAYAuburn: The Tigers finish their opening homestand 3-0 and head to Cancun, Mexico, on a roll.Eastern Kentucky: The Colonels drop the first of two games against Power 5 opponents and fall below .500 on the season.HE SAID ITInteresting. Weve struggled from the free throw line and we were shooting great in the preseason and we actually shot more free throws this week than we have in a while. I think Im not going to shoot any more free throws and just let them do it on their own because that could have been an issue in the outcome. -- Auburn coach Bruce PearlMAJOR MILESTONEAuburn guard Ronnie Johnson finished with 13 points, but it was a seemingly meaningless layup midway through the second half that mattered the most. With those two points, Johnson eclipsed 1,000 total points for his career. Johnson, a graduate transfer, scored 697 points in his first two years at Purdue and had 291 at Houston last year.STARTING HOTWith the win, Auburn moves to 3-0 for the first time since 2011-12. Its the second time in 12 years thats happened on The Plains.UP NEXTAuburn travels to Cancun to play Texas Tech on Tuesday for the Tigers first away game, and theyll look to keep Bruce Pearls best start at Auburn going.Eastern Kentucky also plays the Red Raiders in Cancun, but the Colonels take on Texas Tech on Saturday. ' ' '