Duke survives and advances past Siena after scare, sets up second round clash with TCU

It wasn’t the start Duke expected. It definitely wasn’t easy. But in March, none of that really matters.

All that matters is survive and advance.

Duke did just that Thursday afternoon in Greenville, rallying past a fearless Siena team 71-65 in a game that turned into a real fight. The Blue Devils looked shaky early, even vulnerable at times, but found another gear when it mattered most.

And Siena? They didn’t just show up. They made people pay attention.

Siena delivers a performance worth remembering

This is why March Madness is special.

Siena came into this game as a 16 seed, but they didn’t play like one. They played loose, confident, and with nothing to lose. For a full half, they were the better team.

Gavin Doty led the way with 21 points, knocking down big shots and keeping Duke on its heels. The Saints moved the ball well, hit timely threes, and defended with energy.

That 43-32 halftime lead wasn’t a fluke. It was earned.

Even as Duke made its push in the second half, Siena never folded. They kept competing, kept answering, and forced Duke to work for everything until the final minutes.

For a program that finished 23-12 and battled through the MAAC all season, this felt like a moment that reflects what they built. Tough, connected, and unafraid of the spotlight.

They didn’t get the result, but they absolutely earned respect.

Duke responds like a contender

Eventually, talent and composure took over.

Cameron Boozer was the steady force Duke needed, finishing with 22 points and 13 rebounds while getting to the free throw line again and again. Cayden Boozer added 19 points, and Isaiah Evans chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds.

More importantly, Duke started defending.

The energy flipped. The urgency picked up. The No. 1 overall seed started to look like the team that won both the ACC regular season and tournament.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough.

Jon Scheyer keeps Duke grounded

This is where Jon Scheyer continues to make his mark.

There was no panic on the sideline, even when Duke was down double digits. Scheyer trusted his group, made adjustments, and let the game come back to them.

That calm matters in March.

Scheyer knows this stage as well as anyone. He won a national title at Duke as a player, and now he’s guiding this team through its own run. Games like this aren’t always pretty, but they are often necessary.

Duke passed that test.

Survive and advance, now TCU awaits

Duke is moving on. Siena is heading home with its head held high.

That’s the reality of March.

The Blue Devils now turn their attention to TCU, a dangerous No. 9 seed that just knocked off Ohio State. That second-round matchup on Saturday will demand more from Duke, especially early.

But there’s also something valuable about a game like this.

It sharpens you. It reminds you how hard this tournament is. It forces you to lock in.

Duke learned that lesson. Now they have the Horned Frogs to advance t the Sweet 16.

And Siena made sure they won’t forget it.