Senior Night shines spotlight on 4 Lopes

Grand Canyon will honor four senior players before Friday night's home game, the first of two GCU-Utah Valley games that will close the regular season and decide the WAC regular-season title at GCU Arena this weekend.

ASBJØRN MIDTGAARD

As a Lope: The 7-foot center from Denmark recorded the first 10 double-doubles of his career in 19 starts this season for GCU. Midtgaard went from averaging 2.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 9.4 minutes per game for Wichita State to averaging 14.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 28.7 minutes per game for GCU. He leads the nation in field goal percentage at 74.5%, a bump from his career 58.6% clip, and improved his free throw shooting even more (72.1% from 50.9%). His field goal percentage is on pace to break the WAC records for overall play (Boise State's Kirt Cunningham, 67.3%, 2008-09) and conference play (Utah's Danny Vranes, 69.1%, 1978-79).

Midtgaard says: "GCU has been my home for the last year. They've treated me very well and brought me in with open arms. I couldn't ask for more, for sure. The coaches recruited me without me having played much. The coaches saw something in me and I really appreciate that from them. My teammates embraced me as one of their own. It didn't feel like I was an outsider or anything like that. It's just been ideal. It's been incredible."

MIKEY DIXON

As a Lope: The 6-foot-2 shooting guard from New Castle, Delaware, has averaged 10.1 points in two seasons with GCU. As a junior, he was not able to debut until mid-December because of a transfer from St. John's, but he led the Lopes in 3-point shooting for the remainder of the season with a 43.1% clip. Dixon has started 33 of his 36 games with GCU, but missed some action and then played with a facial mask because of an orbital hairline fracture. The Lopes' success is often tied to his offensive efficiency with a game that scores at all levels. He has reached double-digit points in five of the past eight games, including three 3-pointers in GCU's win at Seattle U on Saturday.

Dixon says: "GCU has meant a lot to me. It's been a special experience. The crowd and the fans have always been great, even in a year like this with the whole pandemic and the COVID situation. The fans that we are allowing to come in have been great and the first year was just so amazing. I'm just grateful to be a part of GCU. This has been a real good year as far as our team. It was a family style. It was fun coming to practice every day. All of the seniors are going to look back on it, appreciate it and miss it."

OSCAR FRAYER

As a Lope: The 6-foot-6 Oakland, California, native has started in 102 of his 116 GCU appearances, averaging 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocked shots per game for his career. His defense earned All-WAC Defensive Team honors in 2017-18 and set a GCU Division I-era record with 86 career blocked shots. He needs five steals to also break DeWayne Russell's career steals mark. Frayer is making 36% of 3-pointers this season as his career tally is shy of fourth place on the all-time GCU 3-pointers list. Frayer has been known for SportsCenter-worthy dunks, but also has played his best in important games, like a 19-point effort in a victory against San Diego State and a 23-point career high against New Mexico State.

Frayer says: "Words can't even describe what I feel. It's hard because GCU is home for me. Phoenix became my home and this is my family. These are my people. Leaving them, but hopefully leaving in good standing, is our goal. It's home. You come and you just that warm, cozy feeling as soon as you walk on campus and that's indescribable. You don't get that anywhere else in the country. Our camaraderie is second to none and that translate well to get what we want on the court."

ALESSANDRO LEVER

As a Lope: The 6-foot-10 Italian will have 111 career starts after this weekend and ranks third on GCU's all-time scoring list (second in the Division I era) with 1,571 points. He is 43rd nationally among active players for career points. He has averaged 13.4 points and 4.9 rebounds for his career while making 49% of field goals, 37% of 3-pointers and 75% of free throws. His 3-point shooting has improved each season to 42% this season. He made All-WAC first team as a freshman, when he posted a 30-point, 10-rebound game against Seattle. Lever, who was All-WAC second team last season, has recorded six double-doubles and averaged at least 12 points for each of his four Lopes seasons.

Lever says: "GCU has meant a lot to me for the last four years. I grew a lot as a player and as a person. I found a lot of friends. Like I always say, GCU is a big family because it is. Everybody on the basketball team is basically a brother to me. It's meant a lot to me to grow here with a lot of teammates and friends that I've built through four years. It's been a great experience and a great opportunity for me to improve as a basketball player and as a person. I knew it was a place with high expectations. It will always be a place that everybody wants to win and do great."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

ASBJØRN MIDTGAARD

MIKEY DIXON

ALESSANDRO LEVER

Players Mentioned

DeWayne Russell

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