GCU loses Rhymes, adds transfer Dixon

As Grand Canyon loses another player, the Antelopes welcome guard Mikey Dixon into the fold at much-needed time.

Dixon, who transferred in last year from St. John’s, becomes eligible for the Antelopes’ Tuesday night game at New Mexico.

Meanwhile, coach Dan Majerle said that forward J.J. Rhymes has been lost for the season with an injury.

GCU (4-8) is hoping to have senior wing Oscar Frayer for Tuesday night’s game, but Majerle wasn’t expressing confidence Monday morning after practice, before departing for Albuquerque.

The Antelopes have one more nonconference game after this, at home Saturday against Eastern Illinois, before starting Western Athletic Conference play on Jan. 4 at CSU Bakersfield.

Frayer, who has started since his freshman year, has yet to play this season because of academics. If his grades picked up in the fall semester, he’ll become eligible for New Mexico on Tuesday.

“It’s probably 50-50,” Majerle said about Frayer. “Mikey is definitely in.”

Dixon will start against the Lobos, even though he hasn’t played a game in a year.

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The Pit is one of the loudest college basketball arenas in the nation. The Lobos are 7-0 at home this year. They’re coming off a 69-62 win over GCU’s biggest WAC rival, New Mexico State. Carlton Bragg had 17 points and 17 rebounds in the win. GCU is coming off its fourth home loss, falling to Northern Iowa 82-58 on Thursday. Lorenzo Jenkins, who led GCU with 15 points off the bench, isn’t expected to play against the Lobos with an ankle injury.

With Colorado State-transfer Lorenzo Jenkins nursing an ankle injury, Majerle will likely start Dixon with guards Isiah Brown, Jovan Blacksher and Carlos Johnson and post Alessandro Lever.

“We get a guy back and we lose a guy,” Majerle said. “You just gotta keep working.”

Dixon said he is looking forward to helping a team that has lost its last two and three of its last four.

“I’m excited to be back,” Dixon said. “I’m going to come out and try to play my game, be aggressive, help my team win.

“Right now, we’re limited with guys, so I’m going to have to give it my all.”