Duke Survives Siena's Fight, Advances in NCAA

0:00This is Cory with the story, and here's what is making news across Durham right now. Duke pulled out a tight 71-65 win over Siena in the opening round of the East region in the NCAA tournament. As the number one national seed with a 33-2 record, the Blue Devils advanced, but Siena grabbed plenty of attention with their. Fearless play right from the tip. Siena, the MAAC champs, came out firing and built an 11-point halftime lead, stretching it to 13 early in the second half. Duke struggled with their slow pace at first, allowing 43 points before halftime, but clamped down defensively after the break, holding them. To just 22, players on both sides showed real respect after the game. Duke admitted Siena outplayed them for stretches, crediting their energy while Siena's group never back down against the top seed. Coach has highlighted the heart on display, with Duke's second half rebounding and free throws making the difference. Siena wrapped up their 23-12 season under coach Jerry McNamara, who built this run from the ground up. There's talk he might head to Syracuse next,

1:04but this tournament battle stands out as a high point for the program. Duke moves on with momentum, ready to face the next challenge in March Madness, proving why they're built for deep runs.