Duke survives stunning halftime deficit to hold off 16-seed Siena in March Madness first round

The Duke Blue Devils avoided being connected nan incorrect broadside of March Madness history, arsenic nan No. 1 seed rallied precocious to debar a monolithic upset to nan No. 16 Siena Saints pinch a 71-65 triumph successful nan first information of nan NCAA Tournament. 

Only doubly successful tourney history has a 16th-seeded squad taken down a apical seed successful nan first information – UMBC complete Virginia successful 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson over Purdue successful 2023. 

Siena was successful nan driver’s spot to subordinate that uncommon group, shocking Duke pinch a 43-32 lead astatine halftime. But they were incapable to support that lead, arsenic nan Blue Devils took complete successful nan 2nd half to debar a mind-boggling decorativeness successful nan first round. 

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Dame Sarr of nan Duke Blue Devils reacts during nan 2nd half against nan Siena Saints successful nan first information of nan 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Bon Secours Wellness Arena connected March 19, 2026, successful Greenville, South Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Duke outscored Siena, 39-22, successful nan 2nd half, arsenic nan Saints amazingly utilized conscionable its 5 starters done nan full 40 minutes of nan game. That strategy whitethorn person travel backmost to wounded them successful nan end, pinch players looking gassed midway done nan 2nd half. 

The effort from nan Saints, though, ne'er faltered arsenic they continued to stave disconnected Duke’s comeback attempt. However, pinch 4:25 near to play successful nan 2nd half, Isaiah Evans’ layup gave Duke its first lead since early successful nan first half, 63-61. 

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From there, nan Blue Devils did what it took connected nan protect extremity to support their lead arsenic nan timepiece kept ticking down to zero. Siena sewage things to a four-point deficit, but Gavin Doty’s missed three-pointer pinch 28 seconds near was yet nan dagger successful a hard-fought loss. 

Doty was nan team’s starring scorer pinch 21 points, though he wants immoderate of his shots backmost beyond nan arc, going 3-of-12 from that region successful nan end. He had 4 rebounds and 2 assists arsenic well. 

Francis Folefac (18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists) besides played a immense domiciled successful Siena’s scare of Duke, while Brendan Coyle besides had 12 points connected 4-of-9 shooting for nan Saints. 

Cameron Boozer of nan Duke Blue Devils battles Riley Mulvey of nan Siena Saints for nan shot during nan 2nd half successful nan first information of nan 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Bon Secours Wellness Arena connected March 19, 2026, successful Greenville, South Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Siena was shooting 55% erstwhile nan first half came to a close, including 45% from three-point territory. Meanwhile, Duke was reeling from distance, making only 2 of its 15 three-point attempts. 

But while they couldn’t get nan three-ball going successful nan 2nd half, it was overmuch amended changeable action astir nan rim that worked successful their favor. It was nan Boozer brothers, Cam and Cayden, who led nan measurement arsenic they person each play for nan Blue Devils. The sons of Duke and NBA awesome Carlos Boozer group nan tone, particularly Cam pinch his 22 points to lead nan Blue Devils to victory. 

Cam Boozer was besides 13-of-14 from nan kindness stripe, hitting clutch shots astatine nan extremity of nan game. He vanished pinch a double-double aft hauling successful a team-high 13 rebounds arsenic well. 

Justice Shoats of nan Siena Saints shoots nan shot against Nikolas Khamenia of nan Duke Blue Devils during nan 2nd half successful nan first information of nan 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Bon Secours Wellness Arena connected March 19, 2026, successful Greenville, South Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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Cayden Boozer vanished pinch 19 points connected 9-of-16 shooting, while Evans had a double-double pinch 16 points and 10 rebounds for Duke. 

The Blue Devils will now spell connected to look No. 9 TCU, who defeated No. 8 Ohio State earlier connected Thursday, successful nan 2nd information connected Saturday. 

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