TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Iowa’s Alvaro Folgueiras hit a critical 3-pointer with just 4.5 seconds left, leading the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes to a 73-72 victory over the top-seeded Florida Gators in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
This victory marked Iowa’s first advancement to the Sweet 16 since 2015 under first-year coach Ben McCollum, while Florida, the defending national champion, became the first No. 1 seed eliminated in this year’s March Madness.
Game Highlights
The Hawkeyes, who held a 12-point lead in the second half, faced a comeback from Florida but managed to secure the win in the final moments. Iowa will advance to face No. 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semifinals on Thursday night in Houston.
Florida’s Xaivian Lee scored a driving layup to give the Gators a 71-68 lead with under two minutes remaining. Bennett Stirtz quickly responded with a floater, narrowing the score to 71-70 with 57 seconds left.
Decisive Moments
After a missed 3-pointer by Thomas Haugh, Stirtz’s running layup attempt also failed, but Isaiah Brown secured the rebound with 8.9 seconds on the clock. Brown converted one of his two free throws, setting the stage for Folgueiras’s decisive shot.
In a swift play, Iowa broke through Florida’s full-court press, allowing Folgueiras to find an open spot in the corner for his game-winning 3-pointer. Florida could not respond before the buzzer, with Lee’s last-ditch drive resulting in a pass that Haugh could not control.
Team Performances
Tavion Banks led Iowa with 20 points, while Folgueiras contributed 14 points and Stirtz added 13 despite shooting 5 of 16. Cooper Kock also played a crucial role, scoring 12 points with four 3-pointers.
On the other side, Alex Condon topped Florida’s scoring with 21 points, followed by Haugh with 19 and Lee with 17 points.
Game Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Benchmark International Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, felt like a home game for Florida, surrounded by a sea of orange and blue. However, the Gators, coming off a dominating 59-point win over Prairie View A&M, appeared unprepared for the challenge Iowa presented.
A notable incident occurred midway through the first half when a scuffle broke out between Condon and Folgueiras over a loose ball, resulting in technical fouls for both players after Florida coach Todd Golden intervened to restore order.