Iowa Stuns Defending Champion Florida In Thrilling NCAA Tournament Upset

The Iowa Hawkeyes delivered one of the biggest shocks of the NCAA Tournament, edging the top-seeded and defending national champion Florida Gators 73–72. This game was played at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Iowa approached the last seconds of the momentum-filled game with poise. They were able to win the game and advance to the Sweet 16.

Iowa Seizes Early Lead

Iowa took the initiative from the beginning as both teams played aggressively on both sides of the floor. There was a 12-0 spurt midway through the first half, which was the last thing Florida had expected and gave the Hawkeyes a 10-point lead.

Tavion Banks dominated inside the paint and capitalized on Florida’s defensive lapses. The Gators struggled with turnovers and failed to find an offensive rhythm. UF relied on Alex Condon to keep the game within reach.

Iowa was strong in the 1st half, and they were able to hit nearly 50% of their shots from the field and set the pace. At halftime, the Hawkeyes were leading 33-31, leaving the defending champions in serious trouble.

Second Half: Florida Bites Back

After halftime, Florida was energetic and instantly emerged defensively. At a very slow pace, the Gators narrowed down the lead of Iowa, with the assistance of Thomas Haugh and Xavian Lee.

Florida regained the lead with less than five minutes left to set up an exciting finish. The contest became a back-and-forth tussle, and both teams exchanged key baskets towards the end of the second half.

Final Minute: A Dramatic Finish

The last minute was critical and hectic. Florida had a slim 72-70 lead with only 8.9 seconds left, having made one out of two free throws. During a timeout, Iowa had the last play that it ultimately executed to perfection. Guard Bennett Stirtz came into the lane and discovered Alvaro Folgueiras in the corner. Folgueiras knocked down a contested three-pointer with 4.5 seconds to go, giving Iowa a 73 -72 lead.

Florida tried a full-court play, which was mishandled, securing a dramatic upset victory for the Hawkeyes.

Key Performers

Banks headed to Iowa with 20 points on an effective 7-of-10 shooting and 6 rebounds, with four coming on the offensive glass. He put in 14 points in the second half, which enabled Iowa to resist the comeback by Florida.

Folgueiras had 14 points and 5 rebounds, but the game-winning three-pointer seemed to be his highlight. His presence during the contest was also critical because of his defense. Cooper Koch also made a major contribution to the bench. He scored 12 of his points in the second half. He made 4-of-6 beyond the arc, which kept Iowa in the game as Florida took off.

Stirtz contributed 13 points despite shooting struggles, while also delivering the decisive assist on the winning play.

What’s Next

Iowa improves to 23–12 and advances to the South Region semifinals, where it will face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Houston. Florida is going home after failing to defend its national title.