In Brief

MOTOR SPORTS

Johnson looks to put Daytona problems behind him

Jimmie Johnson's car failed inspection before the Daytona 500 and he didn't last long in the race, getting collected in a wreck on the second lap.

His crew chief, Chad Knaus, was suspended six races and fined $100,000, and his car chief, Ron Malec, will have to watch for six races, too. Johnson also was docked 25 points and heads into Sunday's race at Phoenix International Raceway last in the Sprint Cup standings.

He's hoping to have a good race just so he can get out of the red in points. Coming off his worst year in NASCAR, this isn't how the five-time champion wanted to get his season started.

"It's certainly not a position we want to be in," Johnson said Friday in Avondale, Ariz. "But there's a lot of racing between now and September."

Johnson's car failed inspection the opening day of Speedweeks on Feb. 17 after NASCAR ruled the No. 48 Chevrolet had illegally modified sheet metal between the roof and the side windows, an area known as the C-posts.

Johnson qualified eighth for the Daytona 500. But after nearly two days of rain delays, he was knocked out of the race on the second lap when Elliott Sadler nudged him from behind and triggered a multi-car wreck.

Johnson didn't return to the track -- missing the jet blower fire and the laundry detergent cleanup -- and finished 42nd, earning just two points in Monday's season-opening race.

LOCAL COLLEGES

Cook, Robinson carry UNLV baseball past UNR, 5-4

Trent Cook laced a two-run double down the right-field line to highlight a three-run fifth inning as the UNLV baseball team extended its home winning streak at Wilson Stadium to three games with a 5-4 victory over UNR.

Cook's double gave the Rebels a 5-2 lead, lending support to starting pitcher Joe Robinson (1-1), who scattered six hits in six innings and struck out six, before turning the game over to relievers Jesse Garcia and Zack Hartman. Hartman worked two hitless innings for his second save.

Danny Higa had two hits for the Rebels (6-4.).

Also: Jessica O'Connor and Amanda Oliveto pitched complete games as the UNLV softball team swept two games in the Eller Media Stadium Classic.

O'Connor pitched the Rebels to a 6-4 victory over Seton Hall, and Oliveto followed with her effort in a 6-1 win over New Mexico State.

O'Connor gave up three earned runs on six hits while striking out three and walking one. Oliveto yielded one earned run on four hits while fanning four and walking one.

Paige Emerson had five hits on the day, including hitting for the cycle, to pace the Rebels (9-7) offensively.

The UNLV women's tennis team blanked Northern Arizona and UNR 7-0 in dual matches at Fertitta Tennis Complex.

Led by Lucia Batta at No. 1 singles, the Rebels (8-4) dropped only two sets in their 12 combined singles matches.

The College of Southern Nevada baseball team opened Scenic West Athletic Conference play by dropping a doubleheader to Salt Lake Community College at Morse Stadium, 13-0 and 4-2.

The Coyotes (13-5) managed only two hits in the opener as they saw their nine-game winning streak snapped. Justin Van Hoosier had three of CSN's six hits in the second game.

The College of Southern Nevada softball team swept a Scenic West doubleheader from Colorado Northwestern Community College at the Russell Road Recreation Complex, 6-0 and 5-0.

Angela Mikalauski pitched a complete game in the opener and Jasmine Fukada had two hits. Alicia Firelein clubbed a three-run homer in the first inning of the second game.

The Coyotes (10-16, 5-9 SWAC) ended a six-game losing streak.

MISCELLANEOUS

Wranglers blow out to early lead, hook Steelheads

Mike Madill and Adam Miller scored exactly one minute apart late in the first period as the Pacific Division-leading Wranglers rolled to a 5-1 ECHL victory over the Idaho Steelheads in Boise.

Jeff Hazelwood and Judd Blackwater scored in the second period as the Wranglers (36-19-5, 77 points) pushed the lead to 4-0.

Robbie Smith tallied in the third period for Las Vegas. Goaltender Joe Fallon stopped 28 of 29 shots for the Wranglers.

Also: The Toronto Maple Leafs fired coach Ron Wilson and replaced him with Randy Carlyle.

Wilson was dismissed after leading the team through a disastrous month that included a slide out of playoff position in the NHL's Eastern Conference. He was wrapping up his fourth season in Toronto.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic lost for the first time this season, falling to Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5 in the semifinals of the Dubai Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

The victory ends Djokovic's 10-match winning streak, which includes the Australian Open title. It's a boost for the fourth-ranked Murray, who had a five-set loss to Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals.

In today's final, Murray will play Roger Federer, who edged Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) in the other semifinal.

Wladimir Klitschko will be aiming for his 50th career knockout when he defends his world heavyweight titles against French challenger Jean-Marc Mormeck in Duesseldorf, Germany, today.

Klitschko is 6 inches taller, has a 7-inch reach advantage and is four years younger than the 39-year-old Frenchman.

"I've been criticized for having him as an opponent," Klitschko said.

The Ukrainian, who holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles, has a 56-3 record and has won his past 14 fights. He is a big favorite against the Guadeloupe-born Mormeck, who is 36-4 with 22 knockouts.

Trainer Roger Attfield and thoroughbreds Ashado, Ghostzapper, Housebuster and Xtra Heat are first-time finalists for the National Racing Museum's Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

This year's other finalists include jockeys Calvin Borel, Garrett Gomez, Alex Solis and John Velazquez, and trainer Robert Wheeler. The four candidates with the highest vote totals will be elected. Results will be announced April 23.

Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun returned to practice four days after undergoing back surgery.

The Hall of Fame coach was back with a whistle around his neck, leading UConn (17-12, 7-10 Big East) through drills ahead of its regular-season finale against Pittsburgh (16-14, 5-12) today. He said he's not sure when he will return to the bench, but just couldn't stay home any longer.

"I'm getting back to normal," he said. "I'm not quite as cranky as I should be, but hopefully I will get there."

Southern Illinois fired men's basketball coach Chris Lowery after consecutive losing seasons.

The Salukis lost 66-51 to Indiana State in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament Thursday and finished the season 8-23.

Lowery was 145-116 in eight seasons. His teams made three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet 16 in 2007.

A boys basketball team from an Orthodox Jewish school in Texas advanced to the state championship in an afternoon game that was rescheduled after parents filed a lawsuit to ensure it wouldn't conflict with the Sabbath.

Beren Academy beat Dallas Covenant 58-46 in Fort Worth, a little more than 24 hours after finding out it would play. The game was originally set for Friday night after the sunset that opens the Sabbath. Beren students say their faith prohibits participation between sunset on Friday and sunset on Saturday.

The Houston-based school will play in the championship game tonight. The team will have about an hour to get ready and warm up beforehand.