Houston ? A Rice University freshman football player died Monday, a day after collapsing during a light workout.

Dale Lloyd, a 19-year-old defensive back, collapsed on the field about 5 p.m. Sunday, but was conscious when taken to a hospital by ambulance. He died about 9 a.m. Monday, school officials said.

“I just can’t describe the pain we’re feeling right now and the shock,” Rice athletic director Chris Del Conte said. “It will take a long time to digest. The coaches are crushed. This is a tough time for all of us.”

Del Conte said Lloyd collapsed while the team was doing some light running. Although he didn’t complain of anything specific, he told team trainers he didn’t feel right.

“No one knows what happened,” Del Conte said. “It’s a mystery.”

An autopsy was pending.

Coaches met with the team Monday afternoon to talk about Lloyd’s death.

“He was a tremendous student who happened to play football,” Del Conte said, fighting back tears. “His smile just lit up the room.”

Lloyd played in Rice’s season opener against Houston, but didn’t play the last three games. The team planned to red-shirt him.

Rice is scheduled to travel to face Army on Saturday. Del Conte said he hasn’t made a decision on the status of that game.

College Football

C-USA official suspended

Irving, Texas – Conference USA on Monday suspended an instant-replay official who overturned a fumble by Houston’s Jeron Harvey in the second quarter of the Cougars’ game against Oklahoma State this weekend.

Following a challenge by Houston coach Art Briles, the replay official ruled that Harvey’s forward progress had been stopped before the ball was stripped by Oklahoma State’s Rodrick Johnson and recovered by OSU.

Four plays later, Houston scored on a 27-yard pass from Kevin Kolb to Vincent Marshall to take a 24-17 halftime lead. Houston won 34-25.

The conference said in a news release that the play should not have been subject to review because “a runner’s forward progress may only be reviewed to determine whether or not the forward progress results in a first down.”

College basketball

Duquesne players recovering

Pittsburgh – Doctors removed a bullet fragment Monday from the head of Sam Ashaolu, the most seriously injured of five Duquesne University basketball players shot on campus.

The fragment, initially believed to be an intact slug, was removed from behind his left ear, Duquesne officials said. The player’s medical team now believes Ashaolu, a junior forward from Toronto, has three bullet fragments remaining in his head.

Stuard Baldonado, the 6-foot-7 junior-college transfer who was hospitalized until Friday, planned to resume classes Monday evening.

College Soccer

Texas A&M site for title

Indianapolis – Texas A&M will serve as host the women’s Division I soccer finals next year.

It will be the second time the Aggies have served as host for the women’s championship, which will be held Dec. 7, 2007, in College Station.

Soccer

Uruguay standout loses leg

Montevideo, Uruguay – The shattered right leg of top Uruguyan soccer player Dario Silva was amputated after he was thrown from his car in a highway accident, hospital officials said Monday.

Auto Racing

Montoya begins transition

Talladega, Ala. – Juan Pablo Montoya has a request concerning his move from Formula One to NASCAR: patience.

The former Indianapolis 500 champion made his first test run as a stock-car racer Monday at Talladega Superspeedway, beginning his transition from open-wheel racing star to NASCAR neophyte.

Montoya arrives on the NASCAR scene knowing he’ll face high expectations.

Hockey

Yzerman new Detroit VP

Detroit – Steve Yzerman joined the Detroit front office Monday, becoming the vice president of the Red Wings.

Yzerman, the former captain, helped guide Detroit to Stanley Cup victories in 1997, ’98 and 2002.

“After retiring as the longest serving captain in NHL history and the on-ice leader of our franchise for 23 years, it is only fitting that he join our management team,” Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch said in a statement.

Rookie won’t need surgery

Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Evgeni Malkin, re-examined by doctors Monday, is not expected to need surgery on his dislocated left shoulder, but still could be sidelined up to six weeks.

Tennis

Sweden beats host Brazil

Belo Horizonte, Brazil – Robin Soderling helped Sweden beat host Brazil, 3-1, Monday to remain in the Davis Cup World Group.

Inaugural event under way

Mumbai, India – Second-seeded Mario Ancic defeated Igor Kunitsyn, 6-3, 6-2, Monday at the ATP Tour’s inaugural Mumbai Open.

Shoulder injury derails Horna

Palermo, Sicily – Albert Montanes advanced to the second round of the Palermo International when Luis Horna retired Monday due to a right shoulder injury.

Castano wins at Korea Open

Seoul, South Korea – Catalina Castano cruised into the second round of the Korea Open with a 6-3, 6-2 Monday win over teenager Sanja Ancic.

College Athletics

Duke stripper sentenced

Durham, N.C. – A stripper who performed at a Duke lacrosse team party where another dancer said she was raped was sentenced to four months of house arrest Monday for an unrelated probation violation.

Kim Roberts was arrested nine days after the March 13 party and charged with violating the terms of a probation agreement stemming from her 2001 conviction for embezzling $25,000 from a photo-finishing company where she worked as a payroll specialist.