Duke Survives Siena Upset Scare 71 - 65 as Cameron Boozer Leads Rally in March Madness First Round

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Duke Blue Devils men's basketball avoided one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament history, rallying from a 13 point deficit to defeat the Siena Saints men's basketball 71 - 65 in a tense first round matchup.

The breaking update result sends Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, into the Round of 32, but the narrow margin and late comeback immediately shape the national outlook around the program’s championship trajectory.

Cameron Boozer led Duke with 22 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring the second half surge after the Blue Devils struggled to establish rhythm early. Duke trailed 43 - 32 late in the first half and remained behind deep into the second before regaining control in the final minutes.

Siena, appearing in its first NCAA Tournament since 2010, dictated tempo for much of the game behind disciplined execution and perimeter shooting. Gavin Doty scored 21 points and hit a key three point shot that extended Siena’s lead to 61 - 56 with 7:53 remaining, placing Duke in serious danger of elimination.

The historical context underscored the moment. No. 1 seeds entered the tournament with a 158 - 2 record against No. 16 seeds, with only two previous upsets on record. Duke spent much of the game on the brink of becoming the third before delivering a decisive late run.

The turning point came during an 11 - 0 Duke run that flipped the scoreline and momentum. Siena went scoreless for nearly seven minutes during that stretch, missing eight consecutive shots as Duke tightened its defensive pressure.

Isaiah Evans gave Duke its first lead since the opening minutes at 63 - 61, and the Blue Devils closed the game at the free throw line. Boozer and Evans combined to convert key free throws in the final 20 seconds to secure the win.

Duke’s second half rebounding proved critical to the outcome. The Blue Devils held a 30 - 13 advantage on the glass after halftime, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second chance points. That interior dominance offset a difficult shooting performance, as Duke finished 40.7 percent from the field and just 5 of 26 from three point range.

Siena received additional contributions from Brendan Coyle, who scored 12 points on four made three point shots, while the Saints relied heavily on a short rotation with four players logging 40 minutes.

Duke also continued to manage a lineup adjustment, playing without starting big man Patrick Ngongba II due to ongoing right foot soreness. His absence impacted Duke’s interior consistency early before the team adjusted defensively in the second half.

From an impact perspective, the result raises immediate questions about Duke’s readiness despite advancing. The Blue Devils entered the tournament as the top overall seed but showed vulnerability against a lower seeded opponent that executed with confidence and discipline.

For Siena, the performance signals program progress despite the loss. The Saints demonstrated the ability to compete with a top ranked team and controlled large portions of the game, reinforcing their development on the national stage.

The next steps are clearly defined. Duke advances to face the TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball in the second round, a matchup that will test whether the Blue Devils can correct execution issues and reestablish consistency.

As the tournament continues, this result stands as one of the closest calls of the opening round and a reminder of the volatility that defines March Madness.