The University of Minnesota Duluth is one step closer to hosting a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opening-round playoff game after picking a 78-76 win over Minnesota State University Moorhead at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs have clinched at least the fourth seed in the division and are currently tied with the Dragons for third in the NSIC North. UMD, as of now, currently has the tie breaker over MSU Moorhead based on a better divisional record.

The Bulldogs can host a playoff game on Wednesday, Feb. 27 if the Bulldogs win one of their final two games or if Southwest Minnesota State University losses one of its last two games.

Two of the best from the NSIC North went head-to-head in a back-and-forth slugfest and the Bulldogs converted more down the stretch to fend off the desperation rally attempt from the Dragons. MSU Moorhead (18-10; 12-8 NSIC) nearly forced overtime and had a chance to steal the game on the final possession but UMD didn't break with home playoff hopes on the line. The Bulldogs (15-9; 12-8 NSIC) watched a 76-68 lead vanish as the Dragons evened the score after UMD missed on the opening end of one-and-one opportunities twice and turned the ball over once.

MSU Moorhead needed 59 seconds to make that eight-point lead disappear. The Bulldogs responded to retake the lead after junior forward Brandon Myer made both of his free throws with under 10 seconds left. The last possession featured the Dragons bricking a three-point attempt then failing to put up another shot before time expired.

Myer was the featured Bulldog again as he notched his 11th double-double. He led all scorers with 27 points and he led all players on the glass with 14 rebounds. Senior forward Sean Burns picked up 17 points and junior guard Logan Rohrscheib added 15 points. Rohrscheib nailed all three of his three-pointers but his last triple of the night pushed UMD out to a six-point lead late.

Similar to last night, UMD hung around all night but never got the boost to go ahead. Tonight, senior guard Mamadou Ngom buried the go-ahead chance when the opportunity arose. Burns was doubled in the post and he found a wide open Ngom who flipped a 68-66 deficit into a 69-68 lead. Ngom's three opened up a UMD 10-0 run which gave the Bulldogs enough cushion to play with at the end.

Travaun Coad carried the Dragons with a team-high 20 points. MSU Moorhead's Addison Park had 15 points, which led all bench players. The Dragons shot 49 percent from the field and 49 percent from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs also shot 49 percent overall and 38 percent from outside.

UMD is back at Romano Gymasnium next weekend to close out the 2018-19 regular season. The Bulldogs will host the University of Minnesota Crookston Friday at 7:30 p.m.