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Duke got off to a solid start and took an early lead but hasn't been able to shake a game West Virginia squad in the first half of the first game of the NCAA Tournament's second round.

The Blue Devils lead the Mountaineers 34-29 at halftime. Duke led by as much as nine points very early, but West Virginia has hung tough, and the Mountaineers missed a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer that would have brought the score to within two.

Greg Paulus has scored eight points for Duke, as has Jon Scheyer, who came off the bench and got to the line repeatedly, going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line before he added a basket late in the first half.

Joe Alexander is, as usual, the star of the show for the Mountaineers, with 11 first-half points. Three other Mountaineers have four points apiece.

This has the feel of a game that Duke should be able to win handily, but the longer the Blue Devils let the Mountaineers hang around, the longer it looks like a game that could get the second round started with a big upset.

UPDATE: West Virginia wins.