Duke Cruises Past Siena in March Madness Opener

Blue Devils dominate No. 16 seed in NCAA Tournament first-round matchup

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:54pm

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No. 1 seed Duke easily handled No. 16 seed Siena, winning their NCAA Tournament first-round matchup in the East Region by a final score of 92-57. The Blue Devils, led by star freshman Cameron Boozer, jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, advancing to the second round of the Big Dance.

Why it matters

Duke is one of the favorites to win the national championship this year, and this lopsided victory over an overmatched Siena squad shows they are rounding into form at the right time. The Blue Devils' dominant performance also highlights the continued difficulty for No. 16 seeds to pull off the elusive upset over a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Duke shot 55% from the field and 40% from 3-point range, while holding Siena to just 35% shooting. Cameron Boozer led the way for the Blue Devils with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Siena struggled to find any offensive rhythm, committing 15 turnovers that Duke converted into 21 points.

  • The game tipped off at 11:50 a.m. MST on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
  • Duke has now won 12 straight games heading into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Cameron Boozer

A highly touted freshman forward for Duke who led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists in the win over Siena.

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of Duke, who won a national championship as a player for the Blue Devils in 2010.

Gerry McNamara

The head coach of Siena, who also won a national title as a player, leading Syracuse to the 2003 NCAA championship.

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What they’re saying

“We came out focused and executed our game plan to perfection. This is just the start of our journey, but it's a great first step.”

— Cameron Boozer, Duke Forward

“Duke is just on another level. We gave it our best shot, but they were too much for us today.”

— Gerry McNamara, Siena Head Coach

What’s next

Duke will face the winner of the North Carolina-VCU matchup in the second round on Saturday, March 21.

The takeaway

Duke's dominant victory over Siena reinforces their status as one of the top contenders to win the national championship this year, as the Blue Devils look primed for a deep NCAA Tournament run.