COL BKB: Duke 71, Belmont 70

WASHINGTON, March 20 (UPI) -- Gerald Henderson's driving layup with 11.9 seconds left Thursday allowed Duke to escape with a 71-70 first-round NCAA Tournament win over Belmont.

Belmont almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history, carrying the second-seeded Blue Devils to the brink of elimination in the West Region.

The Bruins were trying to become just the fifth 15th-seeded team to knock off a No. 2 seed. The last to do so was Hampton, which shocked Iowa State in 2001.

Duke (28-5) avoided being knocked out of the tourney in the first round two years in a row.

Belmont (25-9) took a 70-69 lead with 2:02 to play on two free throws by Justin Hare and neither side could score until Henderson's winning basket.

After Henderson's field goal, Hare missed a jumper, but the Bruins retained possession on a tie-up with four seconds left.

Duke's DeMarcus Nelson stole the inbound pass and he was fouled, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one situation with 2.7 seconds left, giving Belmont a final chance. Hare got off a shot from midcourt, but it bounced off the rim.

Henderson led Duke with 21 and Alex Renfroe had 15 for Belmont.