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Timely shots and a gritty performance helped the Iowa Hawkeyes knock off the defending NCAA men’s national basketball champion Florida Gators on Sunday night, 73-72.
Down two points, Iowa inbounded to guard Bennett Stirtz, who dribbled up the floor and found Alvaro Folgueiras in the corner. Folgueiras took a dribble back to make sure he was above the 3-point line and hit the go-ahead bucket with just over four seconds left.
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Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras (7) makes a three-pointer against Florida in the second half of the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Folgueiras pointed to the sky to honor his late father. Florida couldn’t get a shot off in the last second and Iowa won the game. He was seen hugging his mother in the stands.
“It’s really special,” Folgueiras said after the match. “We went through a lot of moments in the season. I’ve been in a lot of moments in my life. My mom is there after fighting for me her whole life. This is really special. It’s for the dreamers and there are no better dreamers than us.”
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Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras (7) and Florida forward Thomas Haugh (10) go after a loose ball during the first half of the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Folgueiras scored 14 points and had five rebounds in the win. Iowa star Tavion Banks added 20 points on 7-of-10 from the field.
Florida’s Alex Condon led the Gators with 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Thomas Haugh added 19 points and Xavian Lee had 17 points.
It will be the first time since 1999 that Iowa will be able to compete in the Sweet 16. That year, JR Koch and the Hawkeyes lost to the Rip Hamilton-led UConn Huskies.
Florida forward Alex Condon (21) reacts after the team lost to Iowa during the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
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Florida is the first No. 1 seed in the men’s tournament to fall.
The Gators will no longer be in contention to be repeat champions. That means the Dan Hurley-led UConn team remains the only back-to-back champions since Florida started its own dynasty in 2006 and 2007.
