The good news had to be balanced out by some bad at some point, right?

After Tuesday’s rout of No. 16 Marquette and Wednesday’s recruiting win with the verbal commitment from four-star guard Nate Tabor, St. John’s lost a significant piece to its team Thursday.

Reserve guard Mikey Dixon is transferring, the school announced. The 6-foot-1 guard was averaging 5.9 points in 17.4 minutes per game, as usually the first player off the bench, but he received just seven minutes in the Red Storm’s first two league games. Dixon scored in double-figures four times, with a season-high 14 against Maryland Eastern Shore. He didn’t score in either Big East contest, not even taking a shot, and was frustrated with his diminished role, according to a source.

“We respect Mikey’s decision and wish him nothing but the best,” St. John’s coach Chris Mullin said in a statement. “He’s a good basketball player and a good person with a bright future ahead.”

Dixon came to St. John’s after one season at Quinnipiac, where he was the MAAC Freshman of the Year. A redshirt sophomore, Dixon will only have a year and a half of eligibility remaining. He loses this entire year and will have to sit out the first half of next season, barring a waiver.

His departure raises the importance of freshman Greg Williams, who has seen his role expand in recent games. While the expectation is junior star Shamorie Ponds will leave for the NBA after this season, St. John’s backcourt will remain crowded. It will add juco guard Cam Mack and Mississippi State transfer Eli Wright, who is sitting out this season, and also could return juniors Justin Simon and Mustapha Heron.