TAMPA, Fla. — Alvaro Folgueiras assured Bennett Stirtz he’d be ready for the ball, and he delivered in the crucial moment.
Folgueiras sank a three-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining, and Iowa consequently eliminated the reigning national champion Florida team, sending the top-seeded Gators home after a 73-72 triumph on Sunday in the second round of the men’s NCAA tournament.
Under the guidance of first-year coach Ben McCollum, the Hawkeyes advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, while Florida (27-8) became the initial No. 1 seed to be ousted from this year’s March Madness competition.
“This feels truly extraordinary,” Folgueiras remarked. “March belongs to those who dream, and no one dreams bigger than us. It’s an amazing feeling. We must continue our momentum. We are among the nation’s top 16 squads. Our drive remains strong.”
Iowa (23-12) relinquished a 12-point advantage in the second half but mounted a comeback in the closing minutes, becoming the first No. 9 seed to defeat a No. 1 since Florida State shocked Xavier in 2018. The Hawkeyes are scheduled to compete against No. 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semifinals this Thursday evening in Houston.
“They exhibit grit, they contend fiercely, they embody every quality we aspire to have in Iowa basketball,” stated McCollum, who had previously coached Stirtz and three additional players at Drake, bringing them with him.
A driving layup by Xaivian Lee propelled Florida to a 71-68 lead with less than two minutes remaining. Stirtz responded by sinking a floater, narrowing the deficit to 71-70 with just 57 seconds left.
Following Thomas Haugh’s missed three-point attempt, Stirtz failed to convert a running layup, but Isaiah Brown secured the rebound with 8.9 seconds on the clock. Brown then successfully converted his second free throw.
However, Iowa effortlessly circumvented Florida’s full-court defensive pressure, leaving Folgueiras uncovered in the corner for a three-point shot. The initial strategy targeted Stirtz, but as defenders converged on him, he passed the ball to his open teammate.
“We operate without ego. We derive satisfaction from each other’s achievements,” Stirtz communicated.
Upon learning from Stirtz that Folgueiras had requested the ball, McCollum inquired: “Did you truly say that?”
“Unfounded self-assurance,” McCollum commented, a smile on his face.
Florida was unable to attempt a shot before the final buzzer, as Lee’s urgent drive culminated in a pass that Haugh failed to control.
“Tonight’s outcome is disheartening for us, yet I commend Iowa,” stated Gators coach Todd Golden. “I believed they performed admirably, particularly in the initial half. They put us somewhat on the defensive, and I felt they demonstrated greater physical resilience than us early on. It required some effort for us to regain stability, and then they commenced the second half strongly. … I thought, clearly, during the ultimate play, our intention was to commit a foul to hinder them from attempting a three-pointer, but they slipped past us. We couldn’t manage to commit the foul, and they successfully made the shot, so credit to them for that. It’s simply a difficult manner to be eliminated.”
Having secured a 59-point win against Prairie View A&M on Friday evening, Florida appeared to be a team unaccustomed to strong opposition. Iowa, however, demonstrated greater tenacity than the Gators on both offense and defense.
“It was five mature individuals against five mature individuals, and our desire for victory was simply stronger,” Folgueiras declared.
The atmosphere resembled a home match for the Gators, who competed before a vast expanse of orange and blue spectators at Benchmark International Arena, the venue for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Supporters departed in disbelief.
“We were the sole believers in ourselves, and that perception will likely persist,” Stirtz commented.
Tavion Banks spearheaded Iowa’s scoring with 20 points; Folgueiras contributed 14 points, and Stirtz concluded with 13 points, despite an unfavorable shooting performance of only 5 for 16. Cooper Kock added 12 points from four successful three-pointers.
For Florida, Alex Condon was the top scorer with 21 points, followed by Haugh with 19 points, and Lee contributing 17 points.
A confrontation erupted slightly after the middle of the first half, with Iowa holding a 19-13 advantage, as Condon and Folgueiras vied for possession of a loose ball. Both athletes fell to the ground, maintaining a tight grip. Folgueiras drew his arm back but refrained from striking, necessitating the separation of the players. Coach Golden quickly rushed onto the court to aid in de-escalating the situation, and both individuals received technical fouls.
“I did not deliver a punch,” Folguerias stated. “This is March Madness. Everyone harbors a strong desire to emerge victorious.”
