No. 9 seed Iowa orchestrated a stunning March Madness upset, defeating No. 1 seed Florida with a dramatic last-second 3-pointer from Alvaro Folgueiras, overcoming a 12-point second-half deficit to advance to the Sweet 16.
In a thrilling March Madness second-round game, No. 9 seed Iowa pulled off a significant upset by beating No. 1 seed Florida 71-70, marking the first time a No. 9 seed has defeated a No. 1 since 2018. Iowa rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half, with Alvaro Folgueiras hitting a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds after Bennett Stirtz drew the defense. Folgueiras, who scored 14 points, emphasized the team's "dreamer" mentality and their continued hunger, while Stirtz added 13 points and Tavion Banks led with 20. Florida, playing in front of a home-like crowd, was led by Alex Condon's 21 points but couldn't get a final shot off. Gators coach Todd Golden credited Iowa's toughness. The game also saw a brief scuffle between Folgueiras and Condon. Iowa will now face No. 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semifinals.
