Florida stunned by Iowa as bid for repeat ends in NCAAs second round
TAMPA, Fla. — Florida’s hopes for a rare repeat came to a stunning conclusion as ninth-seeded Iowa bounced the Gators from the NCAA Tournament. A 3-pointer with 4.
5 second by 6-foot-10 Spaniard Alvaro Folgueriras ended Florida’s national championship bid during a 73-72 loss to Iowa Sunday night at Benchmark International Arena. Point guard Xavian Lee took the ensuring inbounds pass the length of the court and behind the basket, but the Hawkeyes deflected his pass attempt to All-SEC forward Thomas Haugh in the lane to secure the Hawkeyes’ upset. Comebacks carried Florida to the 2025 national championship.
Coach Todd Golden’s top-seeded Gators needed another one to reach the Sweet 16 again. Florida overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and dug out of a 12-point hole after intermission on Sunday, but could not close out the Hawkeyes, who will face Nebraska on Thursday in Houston. After playing off their back foot much of the night, the Gators had their chances for a comeback — the 2025 team had four in six NCAA Tournament games.
Iowa’s All-Big Ten point guard Bennett Stirtiz missed a driving layup off the backboard with 11 seconds to go and his team trailing 71-70. Fouled on the rebound, sophomore Isaiah Brown, a reserve guard from Orlando, hit his second of two free throws for a 72-70 lead with eight seconds to go. Iowa inbounded the ball to Stirtz, who raced toward halfcourt and fired a pass to Folgueiras waiting in the corner for the game-winner.
Power forward Alex Condon, the Gators’ top returning starter, played inspired basketball to lead the second-half rally, while Thomas Haugh came alive after struggling much of the night. A Condon dunk with 7:04 remaining put Florida ahead 60-58, the Gators’ first lead since UF led 11-8. But a 3-pointer by red-hot Hawkeye forward Cooper Koch made it 61-60.