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  • Folgueiras Stuns No. 1 Florida With Last-Second Three, Sending Iowa To The Sweet 16

Folgueiras Stuns No. 1 Florida With Last-Second Three, Sending Iowa To The Sweet 16

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Basketball

(BCSNN) — For the first time in 27 years, Iowa is heading to the Sweet 16 — and it took one of the biggest shots in program history to get there. Junior Alvaro Folgueiras buried a go‑ahead three‑pointer with four seconds remaining, lifting the ninth‑seeded Hawkeyes to a stunning 73–72 upset of top‑seeded Florida on Sunday night at Benchmark International Arena.

Florida never got a final shot off, fumbling the ball out of bounds as the horn sounded, sealing Iowa’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999 and just the second win over a No. 1 seed in school history.

The Hawkeyes (23–12) delivered the kind of poised, fearless performance that defines March. After falling behind 4–0, Iowa controlled most of the first half, using a 23–13 surge fueled by a six‑minute Florida scoring drought to build a double‑digit lead. Senior Tavion Banks powered the early push with 14 first‑half points, helping Iowa take a 33–31 advantage into the break.

Iowa opened the second half on a blistering 13–2 run — making its first seven shots — to stretch the lead to 51–39, its largest of the night. But Florida responded like a top seed, unleashing a 21–7 run to reclaim the lead and eventually going up by four inside the final six minutes.

The Hawkeyes refused to fold. Banks cut the deficit to one with a dunk, Bennett Stirtz added a jumper, and Iowa regained the lead at 66–65 before Florida surged back ahead. After the Gators made 1‑of‑2 free throws with eight seconds left, Stirtz found Folgueiras in the corner for the decisive three.

Iowa’s defense held firm on the final possession, denying Florida a shot attempt and igniting a celebration decades in the making.

Banks finished with a game‑high 20 points on 7‑for‑10 shooting and six rebounds. Folgueiras added 14 points and five boards, while Stirtz delivered a complete performance with 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal. Redshirt freshman Cooper Koch scored all 12 of his points in the second half, hitting four threes.

Iowa shot 51 percent from the field and matched Florida on the glass despite the Gators’ size advantage. The Hawkeyes also became the ninth No. 9 seed ever to defeat a No. 1 seed.

Iowa advances to face fourth‑seeded Nebraska in the Sweet 16 on Thursday in Houston.