The NCAA Tournament delivered another unforgettable night, with Iowa pulling off a dramatic upset that left fans on edge, Yankee Scores reports.
The Hawkeyes’ late heroics ensured the defending champions were sent home, and the Sweet 16 picture now looks even more intriguing.
Folgueiras’ Corner Three Seals It
Alvaro Folgueiras became the unlikely hero, draining a wide-open three-pointer from the right corner with just 4.5 seconds left to secure Iowa’s 73-72 victory over Florida. The Gators’ Xaivian Lee, who scored 17 points, raced down the court but failed to get a shot off, his attempted pass to Thomas Haugh falling short.
IOWA STUNS FLORIDA WITH A LAST SECOND THREE 🤯
THIS TOURNAMENT 🤩
Watch March Madness on TNT Sports pic.twitter.com/Z9KR3Bn8lT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 23, 2026
First-year Iowa coach Ben McCollum guided the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes to their first Sweet 16 since 1999, setting up a clash with Big Ten rivals Nebraska. “We owe this to our players,” McCollum said, praising their resilience after the nail-biting finish.
Standout Performances Across Regions
Tavian Banks led Iowa with 20 points and six rebounds, while Folgueiras added 14. Bennett Stirtz chipped in 13 despite missing all nine of his three-point attempts, and Cooper Koch hit four triples for 12 points. Florida’s Alex Condon posted 21 points and seven assists, with Haugh contributing 19.
Elsewhere, No. 1 Arizona held off Utah State 78-66, thanks to Jaden Bradley’s 18 points and Motiejus Krivas’ dominance on the boards. Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer was flawless from deep, scoring 24 in a 79-69 win over Miami.
In the Midwest, Iowa State’s ferocious defense forced 20 turnovers in an 82-63 rout of Kentucky, while Tennessee edged Virginia 79-72 behind Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s 21 points. Alabama lit up Texas Tech with a barrage of threes, cruising to a 90-65 win.
Final. pic.twitter.com/pUnUqlHUxj
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 22, 2026
East Region Surprises
St. John’s stunned Kansas 67-65 with Dylan Darling’s buzzer-beater, sending the Red Storm to their first Sweet 16 since 1999. Bryce Hopkins’ six triples proved decisive. Meanwhile, UConn powered past UCLA 73-57, led by Alex Karaban’s career-high 27 points.
DYLAN DARLING GAME WINNER OMG 🚨
ST. JOHN’S ADVANCES TO THE SWEET 16 🤯 pic.twitter.com/cgtCSgKHe5
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 22, 2026
The Sweet 16 now promises heavyweight clashes, with Iowa’s fairytale run one of the standout stories. Fans will be eager to see if the Hawkeyes can continue their march against Nebraska.
