How Boozer twins, Jon Scheyer's second-half adjustments saved Duke from Siena upset
The Boozer twins scored 41 total points and the Blue Devils held Siena to just 22 second half points.
How Boozer twins, Jon Scheyer's second-half adjustments saved Duke from Siena upset originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . No.
1 Duke survived a historic scare in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, overcoming an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat 16-seeded Siena 71–65 in Greenville. The Blue Devils trailed 43–32 at the break—the largest halftime deficit ever faced by a No. 1 seed against a 16-seed—before a poised second-half surge spared them from becoming the third top seed to fall in the opening round.
Presumptive National Player of the Year Cameron Boozer anchored the comeback with a 22-point performance, while his twin brother Cayden added 19 to keep the offense afloat during a cold shooting start. The turnaround, however, was sparked on the defensive end. After allowing the Saints to shoot a blistering 55% in the first period, Jon Scheyer’s squad clamped down, holding Siena to just 22 points in the final 20 minutes.
SN's MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Printable PDF The defensive pivot was headlined by Dame Sarr, who drew the assignment of neutralizing Siena star Gavin Doty. With Sarr limiting Doty’s clean looks and the Boozer brothers controlling the glass, Duke erased the double-digit margin with a 12–0 run in second-chance points. While the Blue Devils found themselves in a deeper hole than anyone expected, their star power and second-half adjustments were enough to secure a date with TCU in the Round of 32.