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Defending champion Florida becomes first No. 1 seed to lose in NCAA Tournament, falling 73-72 to ninth-seeded Iowa

Iowa's late-game surge overcame Florida's pressure defense, marking their first Sweet 16 since 1999 and ending Florida's title defense, a fate for eight of past nine champions.

  • On Sunday Alvaro Folgueiras hit a 3 with 4.5 seconds remaining, giving Iowa a 73-72 victory over Florida in Tampa.
  • Playing in Tampa, the Florida Gators entered Sunday fresh off a 59-point blowout and looked like a top seed at Benchmark International Arena, while Iowa played physically and led early.
  • Iowa contributors included Tavion Banks with 20 points, Folgueiras with 14, and Stirtz with 13, after Lee's layup put Florida ahead 71-68.
  • The win sends the Iowa team to their first Sweet 16 since 1999, where they will face Nebraska on Thursday, March 26, in Houston.
  • Under first-year coach Ben McCollum, Iowa reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, continuing a trend of defending champions failing to reach the next round, as eight of the past nine did not repeat.
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Las Vegas Sun broke the news in Las Vegas, United States on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
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