In a thrilling second-round NCAA Tournament matchup, ninth-seeded Iowa defeated defending national champion Florida 73-72, thanks to a clutch three-pointer by Alvaro Folgueiras with 4.5 seconds left. The loss marked Florida’s (27-8) exit as the first No. 1 seed eliminated in this year’s March Madness, while Iowa (23-12) advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015 under first-year coach Ben McCollum.
Florida led 72-70 with only eight seconds remaining, but Iowa broke the Gators’ full-court press, allowing Folgueiras to shoot wide open from the corner. Florida’s final attempt, a desperate drive by Xaivian Lee, failed as Thomas Haugh could not secure the pass before time expired. Iowa will face No. 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semifinals on Thursday in Houston.
Folgueiras Honors Parents, Powers Iowa Comeback Over Florida to Sweet 16
Folguerias, from Malaga, Spain, dedicated the game-winning shot to his late father and his mother, who sent him to the U.S. at age 16 to pursue basketball despite language barriers. “She sent a 16-year-old kid to America without knowing any English…without anything but dreams and hunger,” he said, celebrating with his mother, who attended her first game in two years.
The game itself was intense, with Iowa overcoming a squandered 12-point second-half lead and a physical first half that included a scuffle between Folgueiras and Florida’s Alex Condon, resulting in technical fouls for both players. Florida had come off a 59-point blowout win against Prairie View A&M but struggled against the Hawkeyes’ resilience, leaving the Benchmark International Arena stunned. Iowa’s composure in the final minutes and Folgueiras’s heroics cemented a memorable upset, advancing the Hawkeyes to a promising Sweet 16 showdown.
This victory not only showcased Iowa’s clutch execution but also highlighted Folgueiras’s personal journey and dedication, making the win a defining moment for both the team and the player.
