The road dogs strike again.

The University of Minnesota Duluth battled back from a 14-point first-half deficit to take down Augustana University 81-72 at the Elmen Center Friday night. The Bulldogs, who trailed 31-17 with under seven minutes left in the first half, cut the Viking lead to six by half, and shot a blistering 60.0 percent in the second half to overrun and sink Augustana on its home floor.

UMD grabbed a critical win in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference as it was tied with the Vikings in the NSIC coming into the weekend. With the win, the Bulldogs now have the tiebreaker scenario over Augustana if the two teams tie at the end of the season.

UMD (13-8; 10-7 NSIC) won its seventh road game of the season and has won three of the last four. The seven road victories are the most by the program since 2011-12 when Gary Holquist was still coaching the Bulldogs. UMD also grabbed its 10th NSIC of the season, the first time the Bulldogs racked up double-digit league wins in three years.

Four starters registered double figures with none other than junior forward Brandon Myer leading the way again. Myer, who has led the Bulldogs in scoring 13 times this season, tallied 22 points on 19 attempts. The three-time NSIC North Division Player of the Week started slow like the rest of the Bulldogs but came alive with 15 points in the second half.

Senior forward Sean Burns nailed down his fifth double-double with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Burns also added three assists and had all three of UMD's blocks. Freshman guard Hunter Plamann collected 12 points off four triples and senior guard Mamadou Ngom chipped in 11 points including a three as well. Plamann and Ngom each tallied two assists as the Bulldogs dished out 15 total helpers.

The Vikings (13-10; 9-8 NSIC) went on 15-0 run after Myer and junior guard Logan Rohrscheib knocked down back-to-back triples. Burns, who had UMD's first eight points, broke the run after the Bulldogs missed four shots and gave away the ball twice. UMD got itself back in the game before the break as the Bulldogs ended the final 90 seconds of the first half on a 6-0 run.

Augustana had no answer in the second to counter the punches thrown by UMD. The lead disappeared from the Vikings after Plamann hit the go-ahead three coming out of the media timeout to grab a 48-47 lead. Augustana never took it back.

The Bulldogs ran off a 7-0 run to push their edge up to 10 points with under eight minutes remaining. Sophomore forward Jake Paper started this run with a hook shot. Junior guard Cody Tomlinson initiated contact to get his contested layup to go. Myer topped it off with a three off the wing.

The Vikings gave one final run but Burns delivered the sinking blow with a three-point play on an and-one opportunity. UMD walked away with its third come-from-behind win after trailing at the half and its second 14-point comeback (at Minnesota State 1/18). It was the first win over Augustana for the Bulldogs since Jan. 8, 2012.

UMD looks for its second road weekend sweep of the season when it takes on Wayne State College at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Postgame Reaction: