CHAPECO, Brazil -- For the players on the humble Brazilian club from an out-of-the-way city known for its agribusiness plants, these were going to be the games of their lives.Chapecoense was having the best season in its 43-year history, heading to the first of two matches in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, the continents No. 2 club tournament. The once-downtrodden club and its itinerant players were enjoying the heights of soccer glory.It all ended suddenly late Monday night on a muddy Colombian hillside. Their chartered aircraft crashed south of Medellin, killing 71 of the 77 people aboard, including most of the team. Three players were among the survivors.The tragedy stunned the southern city of Chapeco and its 200,000 residents, and fans gathered in silence Tuesday to mourn outside the teams small green-and-white concrete stadium.The city is very quiet, businessman Cecilio Hans said. People will only believe once the bodies start to arrive.On social media, haunting last photos showed the smiling players boarding the flight to Colombia for the first of two matches against Atletico Nacional.In one photo, the team celebrated a last-minute save by goalkeeper Danilo only a week ago against Argentine club San Lorenzo. The save guaranteed Chapecoense a spot in the final -- and ultimately cost Danilo his life in the crash.Now I wish he would have conceded that goal, said 17-year-old fan Rubens Vieira.The club, known as Chape, was in the midst of a remarkable run. As recently as 2009, the club was playing in Brazils fourth division, but it won promotion to the top league in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s.Victories over San Lorenzo and Independente -- two of Argentinas fiercest squads -- as well as Colombian club Junior took the team to the Copa Sudamericana finals, the equivalent of the UEFA Europa League tournament.On Sunday, Chapecoense nearly defeated famed Sao Paulo club Palmeiras, which won 1-0 to claim its first Brazilian league title in decades. Chape had gained admirers for its stout play against Palmeiras, and everything was set for Wednesdays showdown in Colombia. The second match was to be a week later in Brazil.Hans remembered that about a decade ago, this club nearly disappeared. Then businessmen started to help.Few of the players had an international profile, and none had any appearances with Brazils glitzy national team or time with top European clubs. Most had played all over Brazil and Latin America. A few like Cleber Santana had reached Europe, playing with Atletico Madrid from 2007-10.Chape strikers Bruno Rangel and Kempes, both 34, were among the top scorers in the Brazilian league, with 10 and nine goals, respectively.The only players to survive were goalkeeper Jakson Follmann, defender H?lio Zampier, commonly known as Neto, and defender-midfielder Alan Ruschel.Part of Chapes recent rise was due to coach Caio Junior, who joined the club this year after guiding teams in the Middle East. Born Luiz Carlos Saroli, he coached numerous Brazilian teams, including Palmeiras, Flamengo and Botafogo.He was among the dead. But his son, Matheus Saroli, survived, saying in a Facebook post that he missed the flight because I forgot my passport.An Argentine player on the club, Alejandro Martinuccio, also missed the flight because of an injury during a game, he told Argentinas La Red radio.I feel deep sadness. The only thing I can ask is prayers for the companions who were on the flight, he said.Psychologist Sonia Smaniotto said she came to the stadium in Chapeco at 7 a.m. to help counsel bereaved fans.This is horrible for the city, but it will be even worse for the families, she said. Each burial will be the burial of a hero because those families of footballers are built around their careers. These families were hoping to be on the top of the world. Now theyve lost the center of their lives.Also among the dead were 20 sports journalists, including Mario Sergio Pontes de Paiva, a former player who worked as a commentator for Fox Sports. He played briefly for Brazils national team in the early 1980s and had a long career as a midfielder and coach with many Brazilian clubs. He last coached Brazilian club Internacional in 2009 and Ceara in 2010.This is a very, very sad day for football, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends.Brazilian President Michel Temer is declaring three days of official mourning, soccer great Pele called it a tragic loss, and Brazilian champion Palmeiras asked the countrys football confederation for permission to wear Chapecoenses jersey in its last match of the season.Around the world, the sport paused to remember the victims.Barcelona and Real Madrid have held a minute of silence before their practice sessions. Frances top two leagues said there would be a minutes silence at Tuesday nights games, and defending League One champion Paris Saint-Germain also tweeted a photo of its players and staff standing in silent tribute.Medellin-based Atletico Nacional said it was asking the South American soccer confederation to give the Copa Sudamericana title to Chape as a tribute to the players who died.In addition, some of Brazils top clubs said they want to give players to Chape on a free loan for the 2017 season. They also say the club should not be relegated to the second division for three years as it recovers from the disaster.The dream is not over. We will fight back when its time, said Chapes acting club president Gelson Della Costa.Now its time to take care of the families, he said.---Wade reported from Rio de Janeiro. Corey Perry Jersey . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Teemu Selanne Jersey . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Cam-fowler-ducks-jersey/ . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Anaheim Ducks Jerseys . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Scott Niedermayer Jersey .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida States Dwayne Bacon said a major focus of improvement during the offseason was working on refining his jump shot. The early results are encouraging judging by Saturdays opener.The sophomore guard scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Seminoles 88-67 win over Charleston Southern.It was pretty good. I didnt just settle for a lot of 3s. I feel like I took a lot but I got to the basket too and mixed it up a lot, said Bacon, who last season became the first freshman in school history to lead the team in scoring and rebounding,The 6-foot-7 guard struggled shooting from the perimeter last season, making only 28.1 percent from beyond the arc. On Saturday, he was 4 of 6 on 3-pointers, including one off a ball screen, and 7 of 14 from the field.Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton was not only pleased about Bacons shooting, but his all-around game.I thought his defense was good, his energy was excellent and his shot selection was great. He made good decisions with the ball, Hamilton said.The rest of the Seminoles also shot well, going 33 of 67 from the field. Xavier Rathan-Mayes scored 12 points and freshman Jonathan Isaac added 10 as FSU improved to 14-1 in openers under Hamilton.Charleston Southern was up 17-12 early in the first half on a Cortez Mitchell 3-pointer before the Seminoles took the lead for good with a 20-5 run. FSUs largest lead was 22 with under a minute remaining.Freshman guard Christian Keeling led the Buccaneers with 16 points while Mitchell added 14 and Jamar Martin 12. They struggled on 3-pointers, making just 7 of 25.I thought we did some good things defensively and held our own on the boards, Charleston Southern coach Barclay Radebaugh said.ddddddddddddBIG PICTURECharleston Southern: The Buccaneers have eight newcomers on their roster and are still trying to figure out how everyone fits.Florida State: The Seminoles shift to an up-tempo offense showed some growing pains. They scored 18 points on the fast break but also had 10 turnovers. They also controlled the paint with a decisive 48-28 edge.TURNING POINTFlorida State led 38-32 at halftime but was able to put it away with a 14-2 run to begin the second half. Rathan-Mayes and Isaac each had five points during the run but Isaac had the highlight play with an alley-oop dunk off a Terrance Mann assist to make it 45-32 with 17:41 remaining.HE SAID ITIf he shoots like that, it opens a whole new world for him. He puts the ball on the floor well. He has the ability to get to a spot and, with his size, jump up and make shots. To guard him on the line is significant even in the ACC. If he can do that then that gives you a whole other dimension. It will open driving angles and makes teams have to spread out a bit. -- Radebaugh on Bacon.UP NEXTCharleston Southern: Has its home opener on Tuesday against Columbia (South Carolina) International. The Rams are members of the National Christian College Athletic Association.Florida State: Returns to action on Tuesday against Iona, which made the NCAA Tournament last season.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy ' ' '