Iowa stuns defending champion Florida with Folgueiras’ clutch 3-pointer in NCAA tournament upset

The Benchmark International Arena in Tampa erupted in absolute frenzy Sunday night as Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining, stunning defending national champion and top-seeded Florida 73-72 in a second-round NCAA tournament thriller that will be remembered for years.

Down 72-70 after Florida guard Isaiah Brown made one of two free throws following an offensive rebound, the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes faced elimination against the reigning champions. But Iowa broke the Gators’ full-court press, and point guard Bennett Stirtz found Folgueiras wide open in the right corner for the shot that sent the Hawkeyes to their first Sweet 16 since 1999.

Folgueiras delivers under pressure with mother watching

The clutch shot was even more special for Folgueiras, whose mother Beatriz Campos was watching him play a college game in person for the first time in two years. The Spanish forward from Malaga had told Stirtz before the final play: « I’m going to be ready and I’m going to make it. »

« She sent a 16-year-old kid to America without knowing any English … without anything but dreams and hunger. And this one is for her and my dad. He’s watching up there, » said Folgueiras, whose father died when he was 9. After the game-winner, he ran straight into his mother’s arms for an emotional embrace.

ARE. YOU. JOKING.

IOWA LEADS. THIS IS MARCH. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/sNDHTqaGj1

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2026

First-year Iowa coach Ben McCollum was in disbelief at his player’s confidence. When Folgueiras confirmed he had predicted making the shot, McCollum called it « irrational confidence » – exactly what was needed in the moment.

Historic upset ends Florida’s championship defense

The victory marked Iowa’s second win against a number one seed since seeding began in 1979, and the first game-winner in the final five seconds against a top seed since Kris Jenkins’ buzzer-beater for Villanova in the 2016 national championship game. It was a stunning end to Florida’s title defense after the Gators had cruised to a 114-55 victory over Prairie View just two nights earlier.

Senior forward Tavion Banks led Iowa with 20 points, while Stirtz contributed 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Florida was paced by Alex Condon’s 21 points, five rebounds and seven assists, with Thomas Haugh adding 19 points in what was likely his final collegiate game.

The Hawkeyes controlled the game for 66% of the time and led by as many as 12 points, neutralizing Florida’s rebounding advantage and matching them 27-27 on the glass. Iowa now advances to face Big Ten rival Nebraska in the Sweet 16, while the Gators’ championship reign comes to an unexpected end at 27-8.