WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University's Raheem Anthony (Chicago, Ill.) must have felt like every time he stepped on the court, he had a big bulls-eye on his back. After all, in order to stop the Cardinal men's basketball team, teams had to find a way to stop Anthony.
 
All tried, but few succeeded.
 
Anthony was a force to be reckoned with for the Cardinals this season — and that dominance did not go unnoticed around the league, as the SMU junior was one of just six players named to the All-MIAC First-Team, the league office announced Monday.
 
And Anthony wasn't the only Cardinal hauling in post-season conference accolades, as senior Caden Freetly (Farmington, Minn.) joined Anthony in the spotlight, being named to the MIAC All-Defensive Team.
 
Anthony started 18 conference games for the Cardinals, who closed out the year 6-13 in league play and 8-16 overall, leading the team in both scoring (294 points, 16.3 ppg) and rebounding (144 rebounds, 8.0 rpg) – both among the Top 5 in the conference. The junior also compiled 76 assists, 19 steals and four blocked shots against MIAC foes.
 
Overall, Anthony averaged 16.4 ppg and 8.6 rpg in 22 contests, while adding a team-best 101 assists to go along with 23 steals and nine blocks.
 
Anthony, who scored 10 or more points 17 times — including seven 20+ point performances — netted a career-high 35 points against St. Scholastica on Dec. 4. It was the team's highest single-game performance since Eli Cave scored 35 against Martin Luther on Nov. 18, 2018. Anthony also recorded six double-doubles in 2021-22 — including a 15-point, 11-rebound effort against St. Olaf in the teams' MIAC Playoff opener on Feb. 19.
 
Freetly enjoyed a banner senior season for the Cardinals, averaging 8.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 18 conference games — all starts. He also added 31 assists, 28 steals and a whopping 28 blocks. Fort eh season, Freetly finished with an 8.1 ppg scoring average with 113 rebounds (4.9 rpg), 38 assists, 31 steals and 35 blocked shots in 23 contests.
 
Freetly, who collected a pair of double-doubles, closed out his collegiate career with 71 blocked shots, ranking him tied for second in program history.
 
Augsburg and Saint John's took home the league's top honors, with the Auggies' Joe Palmer being named the MIAC Joe Hutton Player of the Year and teammate Rayquan landing the MIAC Sixth Man of the Year honor, while SJU head coach Pat McKenzie was tabbed the MIAC Coach of the Year.
 
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC also announced the annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for men's basketball, which included Saint Mary's Zach Kjeseth (Wabasha, Minn.). Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.