TORONTO - After letting Dwane Caseys strong words marinate for roughly 48 hours, the Raptors took their coachs challenge to heart upon a return to home court Sunday evening. Rick Leonard Saints Jersey . Despite a favourable final result in Fridays unimpressive win over the 76ers varsity squad in Philadelphia, Casey was irate with his teams effort, focus and sense of urgency, particularly right out of the gate. They had no such issue holding off a tougher opponent in the streaking Pistons two days later. This is the NBA and all of us are professionals, the Raptors coach said after his teams 114-110 victory over Detroit. Players know when they don’t give it to you or they’re not in tune or locked in and playing the game the right way. They know it. Every now and then you have to remind them but most of the time they know it. They’re smart people and you’ve been around us long enough to know they know it. I thought today they responded to the last game. The Raptors had fallen behind by 15 before scoring a point in Philadelphia but jumped out on the Pistons, leading by nine early, extending their advantage to five at the half and gaining some separation to begin the third quarter. Uncharacteristically, they had been held under 100 points in five straight games for the first time this season but on this night they looked like the team of old, the one that put up conference-best offensive numbers for most of the campaigns opening months. Thats how weve got to play, said DeMar DeRozan, who also enjoyed a bounce-back outing, scoring 25 points, more than double his total from the previous three games combined. When we play together like that and get everybody going were tough to beat. Thats how we played last year. DeRozan, playing in his seventh game back from injury, matched his highest scoring total since returning earlier this month. His 10 free-throw attempts were a pretty good indication that hes starting to feel like himself again - he had taken just three in three games previously. I almost forgot how I used to get to the free throw line, he joked. But it felt good. I just wanted to go out there and be aggressive. With a sporadic practice schedule since his return, DeRozan said he spent time in the gym the previous night to get some work in, hoping to get back in rhythm. Whether it was Caseys post-game rant from Friday or that accountability the coach referenced after Sundays win, DeRozan and his teammates - at least for one night - seemed fully committed to getting back on track. I call it coaching, Casey said, responding to a question about his perceived frustration a couple nights earlier. We get all upset, I get upset one time and everybody’s like ‘he’s frustrated, he lost his cool.’ No. That’s me every day, most of the time. Although the defence remains a concern, DeRozan shot 53 per cent from the field, attempted 29 free throws and eclipsed the 20-assist plateau - recording 23 - for the first time in five contests. Six Raptors scored in double figures, including Kyle Lowry - with 11 - who led the team with eight assists. Amir plays through pain With Amir Johnson listed as questionable, nursing a lingering shoulder injury, there was some speculation the Raptors may opt to sit him out for a night or two to get him some rest. Of course, it was no surprise to see Torontos iron man back at work on Sunday, in uniform and ready to play through pain, as per usual. He was fine, Casey said of Johnson, who had a solid outing, scoring 17 points and missing just two of his nine shots in 28 minutes of action. From my understanding it’s been there for a while and it was always going to be a situation where he could aggravate it at any time. He’s a walking wounded but Amir’s a warrior and he came in and gave us a great presence inside, 17 points and two big free throws there down the stretch. Johnsons shoulder has been bothering him for most of the season, already wearing a protective pad over it when it became increasingly sore in Fridays game. He was limited to just 16 minutes that night, coming off the bench to start the second half as Patrick Patterson took his place with the first unit. Life without Jennings After turning around their season with the surprising release of Josh Smith just before Christmas, the Pistons worst fears were confirmed ahead of Sundays game. Brandon Jennings, their starting point guard who crumpled to the court with a non-contact leg injury in Saturdays loss to Milwaukee, will miss the rest of the campaign due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. I know he was pretty down last night, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. The guy absolutely loves playing basketball, probably as much as anybody I have been around. He plays all summer. He loves being in the gym and on top of that he was having the best year of his career, particularly lately. The sixth-year guard had been at the head of Detroits resurgent, playing the best basketball of his career. Jennings was scoring an average of 19.8, more than a seven-point increase, since Smith was waived on Dec. 22, leading the Pistons to a 12-5 record after they started the season 5-23. It’s really tough, Van Gundy continued. It’s tough for us but it’s even tougher for him. I feel real bad for him because he was playing so well and to have it end when he was on such a run is really unfortunate. Its very unfortunate for a young man who was playing great, playing the right way, fitting into Coach Van Gundys system, Casey said. You hate to see any player go down like that, especially a guy thats turning his team around. Jennings was also the main culprit in Detroits 114-111 win in Toronto earlier this month, scoring 20 of his 34 in the final 24 minutes as the Pistons came back from a 12-point halftime deficit. The 25-year-old had the game-winning steal that night, knocking the ball away from Lowry in the dying seconds. Former Raptor D.J. Augustin, who was cut by Toronto after a brief and underwhelming stint early last season, will start in place of Jennings for the time being as Van Gundy and the Pistons seek additional help, looking to add a third point guard. At least for one night the transition was seamless. Augustin logged 37 minutes and poured in a career-best 35 points to go along with eight assists against his old club. Saints Jerseys . Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris, city natives, handled the catering for teammates that begged them for the tasty postgame feast. Tom Savage Saints Jersey . Kamloops, B.C., the host city of this years Tim Hortons Brier, is where he won his first Canadian mens curling crown in 1996. http://www.authenticsaintssportsonline.com/saints-natrell-jamerson-gold-jersey/ . -- The defending Canadian womens curling champions squandered an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the standings Tuesday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.Huntsville, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - They didnt meet in the regular season, so Sam Houston State might be saying it won the de facto title game between the two Southland Conference co-champions Saturday. Oh yes, the Bearkats are even happier to be advancing in the FCS playoffs after they defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 21-17, in the first round. Sam Houston (9-4) will travel to third-seeded Jacksonville State (10-1), the Ohio Valley Conference champion, for a second-round showdown next Saturday. Sam Houston and Southeastern (9-4) tied for the Southland title with 7-1 records, but they didnt face each other in the 11-team conference. The Bearkats, under first-year coach K.C. Keeler, overcame four turnovers, playing well defensively in the second half and getting an important block of a Southeastern field goal attempt during the fourth quarter. The Lions were trying to extend a 17-14 lead, but Michael Wade blocked Ryan Adams 46-yard attempt with 8:37 left. The Bearkats then drove 59 yards in seven plays, going ahead 21-17 on Donovan Williams 5-yard run. Southeastern had three final drives, but one started at their 6-yard line and their final one from their 1. Williams also ran for a 1-yard touchdown and Jalen Overstreet scored from 3 yards out for Sam Houston, which trailed 10-0 at halftime. Southeastern quarterback Bryan Bennett, who wasnt 100 percent healthwise, ran for the Lions two touchdowns, but struggled to gain 181 yards on 17-for-48 passing, and was limited to 14 yards on 16 carries. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Fordham 44, Sacred Heart 22 New York, NY - Jack Coffey Field has been good to Fordham in recent years, but the Road to Frisco passes through top-seeded New Hampshire, and the Rams feel up to the task after an impressive start to the FCS playoffs Saturday.. Mike Nebrich threw for 421 yards and four touchdowns as Patriot League champion Fordham passed by Sacred Heart in the first round for the second straight year, this time by a 44-22 score. Fordham (11-2) will head to Durham next Saturday to face New Hampshire (10-1), the nations No. 1-ranked team, in the second round. It wont be the same as playing at home, where the Rams have won 10 straight games and 17 of their last 18. But the Rams appear ready for the challenge. Nebrich, who completed 29-of-50 pass attempts with two interceptions, threw two touchdowns each to Brian Wetzel (eight receptions, 166 yards) and Tebucky Jones Jr. (eight receptions, 139 yards). Fordham took command of the game by scoring on its final play of the second quarter - Wetzels 14-yard reception with nine seconds left to make it 24-16 - and its first play of the third quarter - Jones 97-yard reception at the 11:45 mark to make it 31-16. The Rams outgained Sacred Heart 511 yards to 314. Chase Edmonds rushed for 91 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown. RJ Noel threw two touchdown passes to Tyle Dube for Sacred Heart (9-3), a co- champion out of the Northeast Conference, but was intercepted twice by All- Patriot League cornerback Ian Williams. Sean Bell rushed for 112 yards on 15 carries and Keshaudas Spence scored on a 22-yard run in the loss. Fordham won last years first-round matchup, 37-27. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Richmond 46, Morgan State 24 Richmond, VA - Richmond had won a playoff game already, so there was no stopping the Spiders and quarterback Michael Strauss when the actual FCS postseason began Saturday. Strauss threw four touchdowns to power Richmond to a 46-24 win over Morgann State in the first round. TreQuan Smith Saints Jersey. The Spiders (9-4) will travel to seventh-seeded Coastal Carolina (11-1) next Saturday for a second-round game. Coach Danny Roccos team basically won a playoff game last weekend at William & Mary. The winner of that game was going to be the fourth and final playoff team out of CAA Football, and the Spiders won going away, 34-20. They rolled the momentum right into their game against Morgan State (7-6), jumping to a 22-0 lead after the first quarter. Strauss capped the games first drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Diggs and Seth Fisher scored on two runs. Diggs (eight receptions, 132 yards) ended the first-half scoring with another touchdown reception - an 11-yarder with 20 seconds left in the second quarter - giving Richmond a 29-10 halftime lead. Strauss completed 22-of-32 pass attempts for 272 yards and one interception. He also threw touchdowns to Rashad Ponder and Fisher. Richmond has struggled with turnovers in its losses, but gained a 4-2 advantage in turnover margin, intercepting Morgan State quarterback Moses Skillon three times and forcing him into a fumble. Skillon rushed for a touchdown and threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Herb Walker Jr. carried the ball 21 times for 120 yards for the Bears, who made their first-ever playoff appearance. They earned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conferences automatic bid off a tiebreaker between five first-place teams. MEAC teams have lost in the playoffs every year since 1999. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Indiana State 36, Eastern Kentucky 16 Richmond, KY - Indiana State played in its first FCS playoff game since 1984 on Saturday. Maybe the Sycamores just needed some extra time to warm up. After surrendering the first 16 points to Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State scored the final 36 points for a 36-16 first-round victory over the Colonels. The Sycamores (8-5), one of a record-tying five playoffs teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, will visit eighth-seeded Chattanooga (9-3), the Southern Conference champion, for a second-round game next Saturday. Senior quarterback Mike Perish led Indiana States comeback win, completing a school-record 41 passes in 57 attempts for 407 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. He now has 6,545 passing yards for his career, also a school record, and his 20 touchdown passes this season tied Ronnie Fouchs school record set in 2010. Indiana State was nearly shut out in the first half, but Perish connected with Robert Tonyan for a 4-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left, pulling the Sycamores within 16-7 at halftime. They then ran off 24 points in the third quarter. Eric Heidorn kicked a 47-yard field goal, Perish fired touchdown passes to Kyani Harris (57 yards) and Gary Owens (38), and safety Mark Sewall returned an interception of EKUs Bennie Conney for a 48-yard touchdown. DyShawn Mobley scored on an 18-yard run and finished with 96 yards on 22 carries, and Andrew Lloyd kicked three field goals as the Colonels (9-4) from the Ohio Valley Conference built their 16-0 lead in the first half. The playoff win was Indiana States second in three seasons of playoff appearances. EKU fell to 16-19 all-time in 21 playoff appearances. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, Nov. 29 All Times ET FCS Playoff First Round San Diego at Montana, 4 p.m. Liberty at James Madison, 4 p.m. South Dakota State at Montana State, 4 p.m. Stephen F. Austin at Northern Iowa, 8 p.m. Wholesale Jerseys 2019 Wholesale Jerseys From China Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping ' ' '