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Alvaro Folgueiras delivered a cold-blooded finish that erased a dynasty and sent Iowa into the Sweet 16, knocking off top-seeded Florida with a corner three as the clock nearly expired.
How the final 10 seconds unfolded
The Hawkeyes trailed late but built a set play after stopping Florida. With 3.9 seconds left, Folgueiras rose from the right corner and launched the shot that decided the game.
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- Final score: Iowa 73, Florida 72.
- Decisive moment: Folgueiras’ three-pointer from the corner.
- Gators’ last attempt: A hurried inbounds pass from Xaivian Lee to Thomas Haugh was mishandled and no shot came up.
Coach Ben McCollum on the play and the player’s poise
McCollum praised the forward for steady nerves under pressure. He said the play’s design had a different primary target, but the execution freed Folgueiras for a clean look.
He called the outcome almost dreamlike, given Iowa entered the game widely viewed as an underdog. McCollum noted the rhythm of the shot and the player’s clear belief in his own ability at the clutch moment.
Folgueiras: the shot, his role, and what it means
Folgueiras has emerged as a go-to option in tight spots. The right-corner triple capped a composed sequence and put Iowa past the defending champions.
Key traits on display
- Composure: Stayed calm on a team-designed possession that shifted in real time.
- Shooting touch: Clean release and follow-through, ball barely touched the rim.
- Timing: Took the shot at the end of the clock with confidence.
Historic advance and the road ahead for the Hawkeyes
This victory sends Iowa to the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999. That team was led by Tom Davis and included names such as JR Koch, Dean Oliver and Guy Rucker.
McCollum, in his debut season as head coach, now steers the Hawkeyes toward a March matchup with No. 4 Nebraska. A win would move Iowa into uncharted Elite Eight territory for the first time in decades.
- Next opponent: No. 4 Nebraska.
- Next round: Sweet 16, scheduled for Thursday.
- Potential milestone: First Elite Eight trip in almost 40 years.
