Sports briefs for March 2, 2005

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 | 9:24 a.m.

Nicklaus' grandson dies in hot tub

The 17-month-old grandson of Jack Nicklaus died Tuesday after falling into a hot tub where he had been playing earlier, officials said.

Jake Walter Nicklaus was pronounced dead at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center at about 6:30 p.m., said Palm Beach County sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller.

The son of Steve Nicklaus, the toddler had been playing in the hot tub with his 4-year-old brother and their nanny, Miller said. The three left the pool area and went into the house, but Jake slipped away and went back through a sliding door to the hot tub, Miller said.

The nanny quickly realized he was missing and discovered him in the water, Miller said. She performed CPR until fire-rescue workers arrived. The boy was breathing at the time, he said.

He was brought to the hospital and died about an hour and a half after rescuers were called, Miller said.

He said there was a child barrier around the entire pool area.

Lady Rebels surge in rankings

Fresh from an upset victory against No. 21 Fresno State, the UNLV women's tennis team moved up 18 spots to No. 30 in the national rankings, which were released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Tuesday.

The Lady Rebels stand 3-1 overall after taking second place at their own tournament last weekend.

The Lady Rebels host Utah State at 1 p.m. Friday.

On the men's side, UNLV fell one spot despite riding a seven-match winning streak. The Rebels (7-2) did not play last week and get back in action March 9 when they host 55th-ranked South Carolina.

Bonnell named MWC player of the week

For his clutch hitting against No. 6 Cal State Fullerton last weekend, sophomore Chris Bonnell was named the Mountain West Conference's baseball player of the week on Tuesday .

The Las Vegas native went 4-11 (.363) during the three-game series with a double, an RBI and two runs scored against the defending national champion Titans. None of those hits was more crucial than his game-winning single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in the opening game of the series.

Spurrier kicks leading rusher off team

South Carolina tailback Demetris Summers, a former Parade All-American and a Southeastern Conference all-freshman selection two years ago, has been kicked off the football team by new coach Steve Spurrier.

Summers, who led the Gamecocks in rushing last year with 487 yards on 88 carries in nine games, was dismissed for what the school called a "violation of athletics department policy."