Clemson falls to Iowa as Tigers’ March Madness ends in first round
Brad Brownell and the Clemson men’s basketball team fell to Iowa in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
For the second year in a row, Clemson men’s basketball seas their NCAA Tournament run end almost as soon as it began. This time, it was Iowa that sent the Tigers home, pulling away late for a 67-60 win in the South Regional in Tampa. Clemson never fully recovered from a rough offensive start, and issues on the glass only made things tougher as the game wore on.
Iowa set the tone early and never trailed. The Hawkeyes built a double-digit lead in the first half while Clemson struggled to find any rhythm offensively. Kael Combs led the way with 15 points, while Bennett Stirtz added 14.
Alvaro Folgueiras provided a major lift off the bench with 14 points of his own. Clemson leaned on R. J.
Godfrey, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Butta Johnson added 11. Jestin Porter chipped in nine points. It marked the final college game for all three.