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

The Duke Blue Devils avoided being connected the incorrect broadside of March Madness history, arsenic the No. 1 effect rallied precocious to debar a monolithic upset to the No. 16 Siena Saints with a 71-65 triumph successful the archetypal circular of the NCAA Tournament. 

Only doubly successful tourney past has a 16th-seeded squad taken down a apical effect successful the archetypal circular – UMBC implicit Virginia successful 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson implicit Purdue successful 2023. 

Siena was successful the driver’s spot to articulation that uncommon group, shocking Duke with a 43-32 pb astatine halftime. But they were incapable to support that lead, arsenic the Blue Devils took implicit successful the 2nd fractional to debar a mind-boggling decorativeness successful the archetypal round. 

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Dame Sarr of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during the 2nd fractional against the Siena Saints successful the archetypal circular of the 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 the 2nd half, arsenic the Saints amazingly utilized conscionable its 5 starters done the full 40 minutes of the game. That strategy whitethorn person travel backmost to wounded them successful the end, with players looking gassed midway done the 2nd half. 

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

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

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

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

Cameron Boozer of the Duke Blue Devils battles Riley Mulvey of the Siena Saints for the shot during the 2nd fractional successful the archetypal circular of the 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 the archetypal fractional came to a close, including 45% from three-point territory. Meanwhile, Duke was reeling from distance, making lone 2 of its 15 three-point attempts. 

But portion they couldn’t get the three-ball going successful the 2nd half, it was overmuch amended changeable enactment astir the rim that worked successful their favor. It was the Boozer brothers, Cam and Cayden, who led the mode arsenic they person each play for the Blue Devils. The sons of Duke and NBA large Carlos Boozer acceptable the tone, particularly Cam with his 22 points to pb the Blue Devils to victory. 

Cam Boozer was besides 13-of-14 from the foundation stripe, hitting clutch shots astatine the extremity of the game. He finished with a double-double aft hauling successful a team-high 13 rebounds arsenic well. 

Justice Shoats of the Siena Saints shoots the shot against Nikolas Khamenia of the Duke Blue Devils during the 2nd fractional successful the archetypal circular of the 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 finished with 19 points connected 9-of-16 shooting, portion Evans had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for Duke. 

The Blue Devils volition present spell connected to look No. 9 TCU, who defeated No. 8 Ohio State earlier connected Thursday, successful the 2nd circular connected Saturday. 

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