post-season -- scored 25 points to top the playoff-bound R

TORONTO -- A night that began with the unfurling of their Atlantic Division banner ended with the Toronto Raptors setting a franchise record for victories. Sammy Watkins Blue Jersey . But they barely paused to soak up the good feelings Wednesday after beating the lowly Milwaukee Bucks 110-100 to notch win No. 48. "Weve got a bigger goal," said Kyle Lowry. Greivis Vasquez -- filling in for all-star DeMar DeRozan, who was given the night off to rest up for the post-season -- scored 25 points to top the playoff-bound Raptors (48-33). Lowry added 24 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points and 13 rebounds, Tyler Hansbrough scored 12 points and grabbed 11 boards, while Amir Johnson finished with 10 points. "Franchise record, (but) were just going to keep pushing and see whats next for us," Johnson said. "Were always looking for the next thing, just have to keep moving." Toronto had won 47 games twice before -- in 2000-01 and 2006-07. Its been a remarkable turnaround for a team that went from 48 losses last season to now 48 wins with one game to go -- they wrap up the regular-season Wednesday at New York. "All it takes is the right chemistry, the right group of guys, and you can do whatever it takes," DeRozan said. "You dont need no big-name players, you dont need this, that. . . what people supposedly say you need. "I think were proof of that, and we continue to keep growing and keep learning and keep building and its on to the next step." The Raptors stumbled out to a 6-12 season start. The about-face came after the blockbuster seven-player trade in December that sent Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings for Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson, and Chuck Hayes. "Im glad we made the trade for those guys, they came in and theyve done an unbelievable job and the coaching staff has done an unbelievable job also," Lowry said. The Raptors never trailed Monday, and were up by as much as 22 points in the second quarter. They took an 84-69 advantage into the fourth against a Bucks team that is guaranteed to finish with the worst record in the NBA this season. But the Bucks showed some fight in the fourth, pulling to within seven points on an alley-oop dunk by Jeff Adrien with 7:27 to play. That was as close as the Bucks would come as Lowrys six points were part of a 12-5 Raptors run that put them ahead by 14 with three minutes to play. Raptors coach Dwane Casey wasnt thrilled with his teams performance. "I know its ringing hollow, but we still have to continue to work to get better," Casey said. "Were not where we need to be, defensively, offensively, for the playoffs. Were not a veteran team who can take three or four games off, and expect to come back and keep that rhythm." Ramon Sessions scored 21 points to top the Bucks (15-66) in their 14th straight loss on the road. Adrien added 19 points. The Raptors remained tied for third in the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Bulls, who beat Orlando 108-95 on Monday, so the seeding wont be determined until the final game Wednesday. The Raptors could play either Washington, Brooklyn or Charlotte in the opening round of the playoffs, beginning Saturday or Sunday. The Raptors opened the festive night by unfurling their second Atlantic Division banner -- clinched last Friday -- from the Air Canada Centre rafters. "It was cool, man. It was really cool," Lowry said. "But Ill think about it after the season, for me personally. Im sure the guys will look back and reflect after the season is over." DeRozan addressed the crowd of 18,821, saying "We want to thank you guys for the support throughout the whole season, and we want you guys to help us unfurl the banner as division champs." DeRozan counted down "3-2-1," as the banner dropped to fireworks and cheers from the crowd. "We fed off our fans, and we got to have the most loyal fans in the league," DeRozan said. "Ive been here through the struggles and the tough times, and our fans still were right there with us along this journey. It felt good to share it with them because they played a major part in it as well." Toronto had only won the division title once before -- in 2006-07, which was also the last time they made the playoffs, losing in the first round to New Jersey. Casey feared the banner celebration might work in the Bucks favour. "I think its great for the fans," Casey said. "(But) if you have anything in your trunks, youre probably going to get upset and come out swinging if you see the other team hanging a banner on you." Casey neednt have worried. The Raptors sprinted out of the gate, assembling an 11-point lead with three minutes to go in the first quarter on a three by Vasquez. They led 32-19 heading into the second. The Raptors continued to pull away in the second, a Nando De Colo three-pointer giving the home team a 22-point lead about seven minutes before halftime. But the Bucks closed the quarter with a 15-6 run and Toronto led 59-46 at the break. The Raptors went back up by 20 late in the third quarter on a three by Lowry, and led 84-69 with a quarter left to play. NOTES: The Raptors will host a "Party in the Square" in Maple Leaf Square for playoff games like the Toronto Maple Leafs did for their playoff series last season against Boston. . . New Leafs president Brendan Shanahan sat courtside with Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment. . .The Raptors had lost 11 straight to the Bucks before this season. . . Milwaukees last road win was Feb. 24 at Philadelphia. http://www.authenticbillsshop.com/Sammy-Watkins-Bills-Jersey . - Lengthy games dont bother Tony Sanchez. authenticbillsshop.com/Sammy-Watkins-Bills-Jersey . There is some potential on offence but overall the roster doesnt have enough talent to get excited about in 2013. Maybe QB Jake Locker makes the leap in his third year in the league, but Tennessees fortunes are still tied more closely to Johnson at running back, who will need to return to CJ2K for the Titans to have any chance at the playoffs this season.EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- No. 4 Wichita State relied on the basics Sunday: defence and ball security. Again, it was the perfect combination. The Shockers forced 18 turnovers, finished with a season-high 14 steals and finally locked down Evansvilles shooters late to pull away for an 84-68 victory that kept them one of the nations two undefeated teams. "We wanted to extend them, get their timing disrupted. I dont think we expected that many steals," Fred VanVleet said. "There were only a few times where we had breakdowns where we werent really where we were supposed to be." Few expected the Shockers (27-0, 14-0 Missouri Valley Conference) to be in this spot -- even after reaching the Final Four last April. They are one of only 21 teams in NCAA history to win their first 27 games, extended their school-record winning streak and are 14-0 in conference play for the first time in school history. And after Arizonas latest loss, Wichita State could be poised to move up another notch in the poll, getting even closer to Division Is only other perfect team -- No. 1 Syracuse. A win Wednesday at Loyola also would assure the Shockers at least a share of the regular-season conference title and the No. 1 seed in the Valley tournament -- with three league games still on the docket. How have they done it? With a balanced offence and a staunch defence that Evansville knows is the best in the Valley. Wichita State trumped the Purple Aces by outscoring them 23-2 off turnovers and 10-4 on fastbreaks. Coach Gregg Marshall didnt even need a stat sheet to tell him what had happened. He estimated that the Shockers topped the 40-deflection mark. The other numbers were just as glaring. VanVleet and Ron Baker each finished with a career-best five steals, and, not surprisingly wound up as the top scorers. Baker had a career-high 26 points, while VanVleet added 18 and eight assists and flirted with the possibility of a triple-double throughout the second half. But thats not what motivated Wichita, which lost twice to Evansville last season and fell behind by double-digits early in the first meeting two weeks ago at Wichita. They wanted to put away the Aces, and before the game, Marshall let Cleanthony Early, thhe teams top scorer, know exactly what he needed to do in front of a Pacers scout who had been asking about his defence. Preston Brown Kids Jersey. Early responded by scoring 13 points, seven rebounds and playing his best defensive game of the year, too. "I loved his mental approach tonight and thats not always the case," Marshall said. "But tonight I thought he was very disciplined and when he does that, man, hes really good." Evansville (11-16, 4-10) learned its lesson the hard way. Despite getting 19 points from D.J. Balentine, the MVCs top scorer, and 19 points and 10 rebounds from Egidiju Mockevicius, it wasnt quite enough to prevent a fourth loss in five games or a second straight this season to Wichita. The Purple Aces did most of what they set out to do -- shooting 51.1 per cent from the field, 45.5 per cent from 3-point range, made 15 of 16 free throws, limited the Shockers to only six offensive rebounds and kept challenging Wichita State right down to the final minutes. But the turnovers, as they had all game, finally did them in. "We didnt turn it over in the press, we did it in the half-court and you have to take care of the basketball," coach Marty Simmons said. "Weve really got to learn, weve got to learn from that, and thats one of our biggest deficiencies." The Purple Aces, however, only trailed 38-32 at the half and still found a way to fight back after falling into a 55-41 deficit early in the second half. Mockevicius scored the first eight points in a 10-2 spurt that cut the deficit to 57-51 with 11:19 to go. Early answered with five straight points and Evansville rallied again, getting as close as 65-60 with 6:10 left before throwing the ball away on an inbound pass that would have cut the deficit to three. "They did a good job of changing defences and I was trying to get a timeout," Simmons said. Instead, the Shockers got the ball back and forced two more turnovers during the decisive 13-4 run that finally sealed the victory. "We were just focused on getting stops and it went in our favour," VanVleet said. "We wanted to end it right there. After that possession, I think we got back on the right track." ' ' '