KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Josh Jackson has been huddling with the Kansas coaching staff since the start of the season, and the message has been the same: If you quit fouling so much, you would say on the floor more.The sensational freshman must have finally listened.Jackson poured in 22 points, many of them on highlight-worthy dunks, while backcourt mates Frank Mason III and Devonte Graham helped carry the load as fifth-ranked Kansas routed Alabama-Birmingham 83-63 on Monday night in the semifinals of the CBE Classic.Me committing silly fouls take me out of the game, and dont allow me to play as much as Id like, said Jackson, who also had seven rebounds and three assists. It worked out today.Mason finished with 20 points and Graham had 16 for the Jayhawks (3-1), who advanced to play Georgia for the title on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs beat George Washington 81-73 in the other semifinal.Kansas raced to a big early lead, weathered several runs by UAB, then relied on their backcourt of Jackson, Mason and Graham to pull away from the Blazers down the stretch.Theyre very good. Theyre obviously one of the best teams in the country, UAB coach Robert Ehsan said. When they shoot it like that, theyre very hard to beat.Dirk Williams led the Blazers (2-2) with 13 points. Tyler Madison had 12.The Blazers got off to what looked like it would be a catastrophic start, turning the ball over seven times and missing their first 11 field-goal attempts. Their only points over the first 10 minutes came on foul shots, and by the time they finally hit the Jayhawks led 23-3.They started off really shooting it bad, and we defended pretty well, Kansas coach Bill Self said, but I didnt think our defense was very good the last 30 minutes. I thought it was average at best.The Blazers took advantage with a run of their own.They ripped off a 17-2 run over the next 6 minutes as the Jayhawks missed seven straight shots of their own, and they quieted a partisan crowd by getting within 27-20 late in the half.If that didnt make Self irate, the way Kansas ended it did. Graham hit a 3-pointer with 5 seconds to go, but UAB went coast-to-coast for a buzzer-beating basket to deflate the Jayhawks.We were exciting going into halftime, Ehsan said. I thought if we could make a run in the second half, we would have a shot. But theyre Kansas for a reason.The teams resumed trading runs early in the second half before the Jayhawks began pulling, and four 3-pointers by Svi Mykhailiuk -- who finished with 15 points -- helped put the game out of reach.We played really well. I think everybodys mind was right, Graham said. We came in focused, just trying to do the little things weve been watching on film that we hadnt been doing well.Jackson added an exclamation mark with just over four minutes left, taking a pass in the open floor and throwing down a windmill dunk while getting fouled for a three-point play.Hes an extremely talented player. His versatility is what Ive been surprised with, how many things he can do on the floor, Ehsan said. Hes a tremendous player.CHARITY STRIPESelf was plenty unhappy with the foul line at both ends of the floor. Kansas sent UAB there 26 times while going just 9 of 19 at its own end. We have to figure out a way to get to the free-throw line, he said, and when we do, itd be nice when we made some every now and then. Were putting people on the line too much and giving people too many free points.BIG PICTUREUAB showed some moxie in rallying from its big early hole, even the Jayhawks never led by fewer than five the rest of the way. It had to be encouraging for first-year coach Robert Ehsan, who is trying to get the Blazers back into the NCAA Tournament this year.Kansas looked tired at times from a brutal start to the season. The Jayhawks played Indiana in Hawaii, Duke in New York and Siena at home on Friday night. The grind continues with the CBE Classic title game before another home game against UNC-Asheville on Friday night.UP NEXTUAB plays in the consolation game Tuesday night.Kansas plays the Bulldogs for the tournament Nike Air Max 270 Outlet . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Clearance Nike Air Max 270 . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. https://www.cheapnikeairmax270china.us/ . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Nike Air Max 270 Sale . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Wholesale Nike Air Max 270 . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. PARIS -- Striker Mario Balotelli was rested to protect a sore hip and his replacement Alassane Plea scored the winner as Nice beat struggling Nancy 1-0 Sunday to stay top of the French league.Keeping Thursdays Europa League match at Russian side Krasnodar in mind, Nice coach Lucien Favre thought it best to leave out Balotelli and put other regulars on the bench.Marios hip was hurting so it was too risky ... Well see for Thursday, Favre said. We have a long trip to Krasnodar and the Europa League will take its toll for sure.Balotelli has made a strong start to his career in France, scoring four goals in two league games -- two on his debut against Marseille and two well-taken goals in a 4-0 midweek win against Monaco.Favre has spoken of how the Italian forward, who is reviving his career in France after a failed stint in England with Liverpool and a dismal loan spell at AC Milan, still needs to regain full fitness.This time, Balotelli was not needed as Plea -- who scored when replacing Balotelli against Monaco on Wednesday night -- poked the ball in after midfielder Valentin Eysseric had clipped a pass over the defense.Nancys fans were again left feeling disappointed after a fourth defeat in seven matches, with the promoted club in 19th place.Nice is one point clear of French Riviera rival Monaco after seven games, three in front of Toulouse and four ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.Its magnificent to have 17 points after seven games, Favre said. But its the matches coming up that count.PSG lost 2-0 at Toulouse on Friday.---MARSEILLE 2, NANTES 1It was third time lucky for captain Bafetimbi Gomis, who struck Marseilles winner from the penalty spot after having missed two clear chances.After defender Enock Kwateng tripped him, Gomis slammed his spot kick straight down the middle in the 53rd minute.Florian (Thauvin) told me he wanted to take it, the 31-year-old Gomis saiid.dddddddddddd But with all my experience, it was my responsibility.Marseilles past two defeats were by 3-2 scores, with Marseille leading 2-1 both times.This time Marseille rallied from 1-0 down to secure a much-needed victory.Nantes pressured heavily at the end, with midfielder Guillaume Gillet striking the crossbar.Earlier, Marseilles defense panicked on a third-minute corner as Polish striker Mariusz Stepinskis header was bundled into the net by forward partner Emiliano Sala.Clinton NJies first goal since joining on loan from English side Tottenham drew Marseille level in the 23rd, and it was a fine finish from 20 meters after Gomis instinctive flick sent him through.Moments later, Gomis curled wide from close range after shrugging off two defenders.I was too greedy on that chance, Gomis said. I wanted to put it far out of the goalies reach.Just after the restart, he was way wide with a spectacular diving header from a corner.Still, with five league goals in seven games since joining from Premier League side Swansea, Gomis is making his mark.---SAINT-ETIENNE 3, LILLE 1At 0-0 the match was going reasonably well for last-place Lille until defender Franck Beria wafted his hand in the air to block a pass over midfield.It was careless and costly, earning Beria a second yellow card. After his sending off in the 43rd minute, 10-man Lille conceded three second-half goals.No wonder under-pressure coach Frederic Antonetti shook his head in annoyance as Beria -- a veteran playing in his 10th season for Lille -- trudged off.Slovenia striker Robert Beric scored his third goal in four games, 18-year-old midfielder Arnaud Nordin got his first career goal and forward Nolan Roux added the third for seventh-place Lille.Veteran defender Renato Civelli got Lilles goal. ' ' '
