Title: Duke Survives First Round Scare Against Siena in NCAA Tournament The No. 1 Duke Blue Devils barely managed to escape their first-round matchup against the No. 16 Siena Saints with a narrow victory of 71-65, marking an exciting start to this year’s men’s NCAA tournament. The game saw Duke trailing for most of it until they finally took the lead in the second half and finished strong with a decisive 15-4 run that put any hopes of an upset to rest. This victory comes as no surprise, given Duke’s status as betting favorites to win the entire tournament. However, their close call against Siena serves as a reminder that even the most favored teams can face unexpected challenges in March Madness. It also highlights the unpredictability of college basketball tournaments where underdogs often pull off shocking upsets. In recent history, No. 16 seeds have only managed to upset No. 1 seeds twice before – in 2018 and 2023. Siena’s valiant effort almost made it three times but ultimately fell short due to their second-half shooting slump where they scored just eight out of 34 field goal attempts compared to their impressive first half performance of 17-for-31 from the field. The Boozer brothers, Cameron and Cayden, led Duke’s charge with Cameron scoring 22 points (including a remarkable 13/14 free throw record) while his brother Cayden added another 19 points on an impressive 9-of-16 shooting display. Their combined efforts helped secure the win for Duke and set them up against No. 9 TCU in the round of 32, who had earlier defeated No. 8 Ohio State. This close call serves as a wakeup call for Duke and other top seeds in this year’s NCAA tournament. It reminds us that no team is invincible and every game counts – especially during March Madness when anything can happen on the court. As we move forward into the next round, it will be interesting to see how teams like Duke adapt and respond to these early challenges, potentially shaping their trajectory throughout the tournament. In conclusion, while Duke may have survived this first-round scare against Siena, they cannot afford complacency moving forward in the NCAA Tournament. Every game is crucial, and even the best teams need to stay focused and prepared for any surprises that might come their way.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament-duke-siena-results-march-madness-rcna264354)
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