TAMPA, Fla. — Alvaro Folgueiras sank a three-point shot with only 4.5 seconds remaining, as Iowa ousted reigning national titleholders Florida, sending the top-ranked Gators home with a 73-72 triumph on Sunday during the second stage of the men’s NCAA tournament.
Helmed by new coach Ben McCollum, Iowa progressed to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015, while Florida (27-8) became the inaugural No. 1 seed to be eliminated from this year’s March Madness competition.
The ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (23-12) squandered a twelve-point advantage in the second half but mounted a comeback in the closing minutes.
Xaivian Lee’s penetrating layup propelled Florida into a 71-68 lead with less than two minutes on the clock. Bennett Stirtz responded with a soft jumper, narrowing the score to 71-70 with fifty-seven seconds left.
After Thomas Haugh failed to convert a three-point attempt, Stirtz missed a running layup, and Isaiah Brown secured the rebound with 8.9 seconds remaining. Brown then converted his second free throw.
However, Iowa effortlessly bypassed Florida’s full-court defense, leaving Folgueiras uncovered in the corner for his crucial triple. Florida failed to launch a shot before the final horn, as Lee’s desperate dash concluded with an unmanageable pass that Haugh couldn’t control.
Having just secured a dominant 59-point victory over Prairie View A&M on Friday night, Florida performed as if unaccustomed to strong competition.
The atmosphere resembled a home contest for the Gators, who played in front of a vast expanse of orange and blue clad supporters at Benchmark International Arena, the venue for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Spectators departed in disbelief.
Tavion Banks paced Iowa with 20 points, Folgueiras contributed 14, and Stirtz concluded with 13 despite an uncharacteristically poor performance, connecting on only 5 of 16 attempts. Cooper Kock tallied 12 points via four successful three-pointers.
Alex Condon topped Florida’s scoresheet with 21 points, Haugh notched 19, and Lee supplied 17.
A skirmish erupted shortly after the midway point of the initial half with Iowa holding a 19-13 lead when Condon and Folgueiras vied for possession of an unheld ball. Both players tumbled to the court, gripping firmly. Folgueiras retracted his arm but refrained from delivering a blow, and the players required intervention to be pulled apart.
Florida coach Todd Golden raced onto the court to aid in de-escalating the situation, and technical infractions were called against both athletes.