Iowa Upsets Florida in Thrilling NCAA Tournament Matchup, Advances to Sweet 16
TAMPA, Fla. – In a stunning upset, the Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the defending national champion Florida Gators 73-72 in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday night. A clutch three-pointer from Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras with 4.5 seconds remaining sealed the victory, sending the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
Folgueiras’ Game-Winner
With the score tied at 72, Iowa broke Florida’s full-court press, creating an open look for Folgueiras in the corner. He calmly drilled the three-pointer, giving Iowa a 73-72 lead. Florida’s final attempt to answer was unsuccessful, as Xaivian Lee’s drive ended with a pass that Thomas Haugh couldn’t handle before the buzzer sounded.
“The play was drawn up for me to get downhill, and then this dude came up to me and he’s like, ‘I’m going to be ready, and I’m going to make it,'” said guard Bennett Stirtz, referring to Folgueiras. “That’s what he actually did.”
Iowa’s Historic Run
This marks only the second time Iowa has defeated a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since seeding began in 1979. The first instance occurred in 1980 against Syracuse. Iowa, now 23-12, will face No. 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semi-finals on Thursday night in Houston.
Florida’s Disappointment
The loss ends Florida’s season with a 27-8 record and marks the first time a No. 1 seed has been eliminated in this year’s tournament. The Gators, playing in front of a predominantly Florida crowd at Benchmark International Arena, struggled to maintain their momentum after building a 12-point lead in the second half.
Early Game Incident
A scuffle broke out between Iowa’s Alvaro Folgueiras and Florida’s Alex Condon in the first half, resulting in technical fouls for both players. Florida coach Todd Golden expressed frustration with the officiating following the incident, though Folgueiras was not ejected from the game.
First-Year Coach Leads Iowa
Under the guidance of first-year coach Ben McCollum, Iowa has achieved its best tournament result in over two decades. McCollum expressed disbelief after Folgueiras’ winning shot, praising the forward’s “irrational confidence.”