No lead seems to be safe as of late inside Romano Gymnasium. 

Minnesota State University-Moorhead became the latest victim of the ferocious late-game heroics put forth by the University of Minnesota Duluth on Friday night. A 18-4 run in the final 4:57 of regulation propelled the Bulldogs in the slaying of the Dragons 83-74. MSUM is now the third consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team inside Romano Gymnasium to allow UMD to blow past them in the final minutes. UMD, who has won three straight and seven of its last nine, closed out its previous two home NSIC matches against the University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University with 12-2 runs.

It seemed all too similar tonight. The Dragons scored on a Travaun Coad jumper with a few ticks over five minutes to tie its largest lead of the game at 70-65.

It didn't faze Bulldogs.

UMD (9-9, 5-7 NSIC) shot 5-of-7 in the last five minutes and held MSUM (5-14, 3-10 NSIC) to 1-of-8 the rest of the way. The Bulldog defense stepped up most when they needed stops. Junior forward Sean Burns defended the pick-and-roll to perfection and knocked the ball away, which junior forward Ryan Kaczynski turned into a quick transition bucket. Sophomore forward Brandon Myer came over off the weak side protection to swat a layup the opposite way. Sophomore guard Trevor Entwisle, combined with Kaczynski, teamed up and force a tie-up and give possession to UMD on another occasion. MSUM coughed up the ball four times inside of five minutes.

Kaczynski, the product of Mounds View H.S., scored eight of his 12 points during the final five minutes. His eight points swung the game from a 70-65 deficit to a 75-70 lead. Kaczynski drilled a corner three to knock the game down to a two-point game then tied it a few possessions later on his fast-break layup. After a thunderous drive to the hole by Myer to take the lead, Kacsynski hit his final three-ball from the left wing put the Bulldogs up by five.

Myer also connected on a jumper to push UMD up to seven and the Bulldogs went on to bury six of their eight free throws in the last minute. 

UMD was the team with more energy throughout the game as they won the points off turnover (15-4) and fast break points (8-2) battles despite being out-rebounded 37-27. The Bulldogs were also the more aggressive team at attacking the defense as they combined for 34 free throws. They made 25 of the attempts (73.5 percent). The Dragons went 9-of-12 at the charity stripe. 

The Bulldogs were clicking in their offensive sets. They hit above 50 percent from the field (26-51, 51.0 percent) for only the second time this season. The assisted on 17 of her made field goals and only turned the ball over four times the entire game. Myer, the local native of Superior, Wis., dazzled once again, racking up a game high 28 points. It was the 11th game of 20 or more points from Myer. Burns posted a career high 20 points and pulled down a team-leading eight rebounds. Burns was hot from the start as he hit four of his first five shots in the first half and he ended 8-for-12. 

Entwisle showed flashes of John Stockton on the floor. He was a menace on the defensive end, creating a pair of steals and an offensive foul. The Neenah, Wis. native, dished out a collegiate best 10 assists, smashing his previous best of six earlier this season. Entwisle had no mistakes passing the ball as he found open shooters and slashing forwards all night. He finished with seven points and five rebounds as well. 

UMD, which has won its last four at Romano, remains home for a meeting against the eighth-ranked Northern State University tomorrow. First tip is at 6:00 p.m.