Top Seed Duke Survives Siena Scare as March Madness Opener Yields Upsets
No. 1 Duke rallied late to beat No. 16 Siena 71-65 and will face No. 9 TCU, as early upsets included High Point over Wisconsin and Nebraska's breakthrough win.
RedStateOur First 2026 March Madness Legend Has Arrived, and Man, Is He Something Else
FOX NewsDuke survives stunning halftime deficit to hold off No. 16 seed Siena in March Madness' first round
Associated PressNo. 1 overall seed Duke survives 16-seed Siena, rallies for 71-65 win in 1st round of March Madness
NBC NewsNo. 1 Duke survives NCAA Tournament first-round scare against No. 16 Siena
Overview
No. 1 overall seed Duke rallied from 13 points down to beat No. 16 Siena 71-65 in the first round.
Siena led 43-32 at halftime and held a 61-56 edge with 7:53 left before Duke ran off 11 unanswered points to seize control.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer said Siena "outcoached" Duke, and Siena coach Gerry McNamara said he was "crushed" because his team "played well enough to win."
Cameron Boozer had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Cayden Boozer added 19, and other first-round results included TCU 66, Ohio State 64; High Point 83, Wisconsin 82; and Nebraska 76, Troy 47.
No. 1 Duke will meet No. 9 TCU on Saturday, March 21, in the East region second round.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame March Madness coverage as a fast-paced narrative of upsets and heroics, using evaluative language (e.g., "big surprise," "blistering hot shooting") and selective emphasis on underdog wins (High Point) and top-seed drama (Duke). structural choices—live updates, highlight links, and score lists—prioritize momentum and emotional beats over deep analysis.
FAQ
Duke entered the game with a "cakewalk" mentality, according to senior forward Maliq Brown, who admitted at halftime that the team wasn't prepared to play. The Blue Devils were also missing starters Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II due to injuries sustained during the ACC Tournament, which forced coach Jon Scheyer to rely on a tightened rotation. Additionally, Duke coach Jon Scheyer acknowledged that Siena "outcoached" Duke during the matchup.[3] Siena's five starters also played all 40 minutes without substitutions, allowing them to maintain competitive intensity throughout the game.[3]
Siena led 43-32 at halftime and built an advantage to 61-56 with 7:53 remaining in the game. Duke then ran off 11 unanswered points to seize control. Isaiah Evans hit a bucket with 4:25 left that gave Duke the lead for good, as the Blue Devils had not led since early in the opening minutes when the score was 10-8.[3] Duke ultimately won 71-65, with the victory marking their largest halftime comeback win (11 points) in an NCAA Tournament game.[3]
Cameron Boozer led Duke with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while his twin brother Cayden Boozer added 19 points along with five assists and zero turnovers in 39 minutes of action.[2][3] Cayden, a freshman point guard, was noted as the biggest bright spot for Duke, remaining poised and running the offense effectively despite the team trailing for most of the game.[2]
Duke faced No. 9 TCU on Saturday, March 21, in the East region second round.[3] The search results indicate TCU defeated Ohio State 66-64 in their first-round matchup.[3]
High Point upset Wisconsin 83-82, and Nebraska had a breakthrough win over Troy 76-47.[3] Additionally, VCU rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit to stun sixth-seeded North Carolina 82-78 in overtime, with Terrence Hill Jr. making the game-winning stepback 3-pointer with 15 seconds left.[1]
