Alvaro Folgueiras delivered a clutch performance, sinking a 3-pointer with just 4.5 seconds remaining as Iowa defeated defending national champion Florida 73-72 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The top-seeded Gators were sent home, while Iowa advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
“This is really special,” Folgueiras said. “March is for the dreamers and there’s no better dreamer than us. It’s incredible. We have to keep going. We are one of the 16 best teams in the country. We’re still hungry.”
Hawkeyes Upset Top Seed
Iowa, a No. 9 seed, became the first team of that ranking to defeat a No. 1 seed since 2018. They now advance to face No. 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semifinals on Thursday night in Houston.
First-year coach Ben McCollum said, “They fight, they compete, they exemplify everything we want in Iowa basketball.” McCollum brought Bennett Stirtz and three other players with him from Drake.
Clutch Plays Down the Stretch
With under two minutes remaining, Xaivian Lee’s layup put Florida ahead 71-68. Stirtz responded with a floater, narrowing the gap to 71-70 with 57 seconds on the clock.
Following a missed 3-pointer by Thomas Haugh and a missed layup by Stirtz, Isaiah Brown grabbed the rebound with 8.9 seconds left and made his second free throw.
Iowa then executed a play that saw Folgueiras wide open in the corner for a 3-pointer, after the defense converged on Stirtz, who passed it to his teammate. “We’re unselfish. We like to see each other succeed,” Stirtz said.
McCollum, upon learning that Folguerias asked for the ball, responded with a smile, calling it “Irrational confidence”.
Gators’ Final Attempt Falls Short
Florida was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded. Lee’s drive ended with a pass that Haugh couldn’t handle.
Gators coach Todd Golden said, “A disappointing result for us tonight, but credit Iowa. I thought they played well, especially in the first half. Had us on our heels a little bit, and I thought they were physically tougher than us in the first half. And it took a little bit for us to regain our footing and then they got off to a good start in the second half. … I thought obviously on the last play, we wanted to take a foul to prevent them from getting off a 3, and they got away from us. We weren’t able to take it and they knocked it down, so credit to them for that. Just a tough way to go out.”
Iowa Outfights Florida
Florida was coming off a 59-point victory over Prairie View A&M on Friday night. Iowa outfought the Gators on both ends.
“Five grown men vs. five grown men and we wanted it more,” Folgueiras said.
The game felt like a home game for the Gators.