Home / Sports / History Repeats? Siena Holds Historic Halftime Lead Over Duke
History Repeats? Siena Holds Historic Halftime Lead Over Duke
19 Mar
Summary
- Siena leads Duke by 11 points at halftime, largest ever for a 16-seed.
- Only two No. 16 seeds have ever defeated a No. 1 seed in tournament history.
- Duke shot poorly from three, making only 2 of 15 attempts in the first half.
As of March 19, 2026, the men's NCAA tournament is witnessing a potential historic upset. No. 16 seed Siena has established a commanding 43-32 lead over No. 1 seed Duke by halftime, marking the largest halftime advantage ever achieved by a 16-seed against a top seed. This development brings to mind the rare instances where lower seeds have triumphed.
Historically, No. 16 seeds have a challenging record against No. 1 seeds. Before 2026, No. 16 seeds were 0-135. Two notable upsets occurred: UMBC defeated Virginia in 2018, and Fairleigh Dickinson beat Purdue in 2023. Duke's performance in the first half was hindered by poor shooting, converting only 2 of 15 three-point attempts.
