Roberts, Donaldson earn All-NSIC honors
2/24/2021 12:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BURNSVILLE, MINN. - To say St. Cloud State University men's basketball stars Anthony Roberts (Chicago, Ill. / Oak Park) and Caleb Donaldson (Bloomington, Ill. / Bloomington) had impressive seasons might be a bit of an understatement. The two sophomores guided the Huskies back to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) / Sanford Health Tournament quarterfinals by putting up some seriously good numbers on both the defensive and offensive side of the ball. For their performances, both were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.
Neither Roberts nor Donaldson suffered a sophomore slump in 2020-21, as they both ranked top-10 in the conference in multiple statistical categories, including both scoring and minutes played. Roberts extended the Huskies streak of 11 consecutive years with a First Team All-Conference honoree, as he was named to the NSIC North Division First Team, while Donaldson earned NSIC North Division Honorable Mention accolades. Both are first-time award winners.
Roberts was the top scorer for St. Cloud State from start to finish, as he led the Huskies in points and points per game from the very start of 2020-21. At the end of the regular season, the sophomore averaged a team-leading 21.1 points per game after scoring 338 points and shooting .498 from the floor during the COVID shortened season. Additionally, Roberts scored 20+ points in nine of St. Cloud State's 16 games, including a career high 34 in a win over Concordia-St. Paul in January, and never once scored in single-digits.
It wasn't just Roberts' ability to score, though, that made him one of the best players in the NSIC this season. It was also his defensive prowess that earned him recognition. Roberts led the Huskies and ranked sixth in the NSIC in rebounding at the end of the regular season, averaging 8.2 rebounds a game with 131 total rebounds, while recording 20 steals and 11 blocks. He additionally closed the season ranked second in the NSIC in scoring (21.1) and led the conference in minutes played at 37.6.
Donaldson had a breakout season, setting career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals during the regular season. As St. Cloud State's starting point guard, the sophomore averaged an impressive 16.7 points per game and tallied 58 rebounds, 60 assists, one block and 19 steals in 2020-21. Perhaps even more mind-boggling than his overall numbers were Donaldson's shooting numbers, as he shot .575 (107-186) from the floor with a .500 (10-20) clip from three points range.
Like Roberts, Donaldson ranked towards the top of the NSIC in several statistical categories. At the end of the regular season, the Bloomington, Illinois native ranked tenth in scoring (16.7), fourth in field goal percentage (.575) and minutes played (35.6), fifth in assists/turnover ratio (2.6) and seventh in assists (3.8).
Roberts, Donaldson and the rest of the Huskies will return to action on Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament. St. Cloud State is slated to take on Wayne State at 7 p.m. in the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
