Iowa hits clutch 3-pointer in closing seconds to stun Florida

Timely shots and a gritty show helped the Iowa Hawkeyes sound disconnected the defending NCAA men’s hoops nationalist champion Florida Gators connected Sunday night, 73-72.

Down 2 points, Iowa inbounded the shot to defender Bennett Stirtz who dribbled up the level and recovered Alvaro Folgueiras successful the corner. Folgueiras took 1 dribble backmost to marque definite helium was supra the 3-point enactment and nailed the go-ahead bucket for conscionable implicit 4 seconds left.

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Iowa guardant Alvaro Folgueiras (7) puts up a 3 constituent changeable against Florida during the 2nd fractional successful the 2nd circular of the NCAA assemblage hoops tourney Sunday, March 22, 2026, successful Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Folgueiras pointed to the entity to grant his precocious father. Florida couldn’t get a last-second changeable up and Iowa won the game. He was seen hugging his parent successful the stands.

"It’s truly special," Folgueiras said aft the game. "We went done a batch of moments successful the season. I’ve been successful a batch of moments successful my life. My ma is determination aft warring for maine her full life. This is truly special. It’s for the dreamers and there’s nary amended dreamers than us."

ST JOHN'S SENDS KANSAS PACKING WITH DRAMATIC BUZZER-BEATING LAYUP IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

Iowa guardant Alvaro Folgueiras (7) and Florida guardant Thomas Haugh (10) spell aft a escaped shot during the archetypal fractional successful the 2nd circular of the NCAA assemblage hoops tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, successful Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Folgueiras scored 14 points and had 5 rebounds successful the win. Iowa prima Tavion Banks added 20 points connected 7-of-10 from the field.

Florida’s Alex Condon led the Gators with 21 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Thomas Haugh added 19 points and Xavian Lee had 17 points.

It volition beryllium the archetypal clip since 1999 that Iowa volition beryllium capable to vie successful the Sweet 16. In that year, J.R. Koch and the Hawkeyes mislaid to the Rip Hamilton-led UConn Huskies.

Florida guardant Alex Condon (21) reacts aft the squad mislaid to Iowa during the 2nd circular of the NCAA assemblage hoops tourney Sunday, March 22, 2026, successful Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Florida is the archetypal No. 1 effect successful the men's tourney to fall.

The Gators volition nary longer beryllium successful the moving to beryllium repetition champions. It means the Dan Hurley-led UConn squad remains the lone back-to-back champions since Florida began its ain dynasty successful 2006 and 2007.

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