Proell, Bruns help lead Cougars

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The University of Minnesota-Morris men’s basketball team has a couple of local standouts expected to take on an increased role for the Cougars this season.

Kendall Proell of Osakis and Kyle Bruns of Brandon are both players who head coach Paul Grove expects to help improve upon a 14-13 record from a year ago.

Proell will be looked upon to be one of the leading scorers for the Cougars. He was named an All-UMAC performer last season after averaging 11.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a junior. He will be joined in the backcourt by Mora native Eric Dalbey and Benson’s Dan Fragodt. Dalbey missed almost all of last season with an injury but returns healthy to help provide a strong backcourt.

“[Fragodt] won’t run big stats, but he is a great all-around player,” Grove said. “He gets the loose ball and a basket when we need it. Meanwhile, Proell and Dalbey will provide an excellent 1-2 scoring punch on the perimeter. They can shoot from long range and take it to the hoop.”

They will be helped out down low by former Brandon-Evansville standout Kyle Bruns. Bruns played in all 27 games as a freshman. He averaged six points and 4.1 rebounds a game during that time. He displayed a soft touch on offense and provided the defensive toughness that Grove was looking for.

The Cougars finished 9-5 in conference play last season. They look to improve on that with two former all-conference players returning healthy and a host of experience and talented youth.

Morris began that quest at home against Concordia-Moorhead this past Monday. The Cougars; next home game is scheduled for December 1 against Mayville State.

Tags: osakis sports, brandon evansville, sports, sports, proell, bruns, cougars, basketball