# SEC Men's Basketball: Iowa Hawkeyes Defeats Florida Gators 73-72 **Published:** 2026-03-23 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield **Category:** games — **Type:** game-recap **Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/iowa-hawkeyes-florida-gators-basketball-recap-73-72 **Teams:** [Florida](https://secscouts.com/florida/) --- FORT MYERS, Fla. (03/21/2026) — A last-second three-pointer from Alvaro Folgueiras sealed a dramatic 73-72 victory for the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivering a heartbreaking end to the season for the Florida Gators on Saturday night at Benchmark International Arena. In a contest that featured five lead changes and five ties, the Gators overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to take a late lead before Folgueiras connected on the game-winner with just four seconds remaining on the clock. ### How It Happened The game was a tightly contested affair from the opening tip. Florida guard Boogie Fland opened the scoring with a driving layup, and an early three-pointer from Xaivian Lee gave the Gators a 7-6 edge. The teams traded baskets throughout the first half, with neither squad able to build a significant advantage. A three from Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras at the 15:04 mark knotted the score at 11-11. Iowa created some separation midway through the period, but Florida consistently found answers. A three from Urban Klavzar, assisted by Alex Condon, cut the Hawkeyes' lead to 26-23 with just over four minutes left in the half. The Gators continued to chip away, and a thunderous alley-oop dunk by Condon off a pass from Fland brought Florida within two points at 31-29. Iowa's Kael Combs hit a floating jump shot with eight seconds left to give the Hawkeyes a narrow 33-31 lead heading into halftime. Iowa came out of the break with an offensive surge. A three-pointer by Tavion Banks was followed by two deep shots from Cooper Koch, part of an extended run that ballooned the Hawkeyes' lead to 51-39 with 14:13 remaining. Facing their largest deficit of the night, the Gators mounted a furious comeback. Thomas Haugh started the rally with a three-pointer, and Florida methodically clawed its way back. A dunk from Alex Condon cut the lead to 55-51, and a Xaivian Lee three-pointer made it a one-point game, 57-56, with 8:19 to play. Moments later, an Isaiah Brown dunk tied the game at 58-58, and another Condon dunk gave Florida its first lead of the second half, 60-58, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The final seven minutes were a back-and-forth thriller. The lead changed hands multiple times, with big shots from both sides. A Haugh three put Florida up 63-61 before Koch answered with another three to reclaim the lead for Iowa. Trailing 69-68, the Gators rallied one last time to take a 72-70 lead in the final minute, setting the stage for the dramatic conclusion. ### Turning Point With the game on the line and seconds ticking away, Iowa executed the decisive play. After Florida took a 72-70 lead, the Hawkeyes advanced the ball for a final possession. Bennett Stirtz found an open Alvaro Folgueiras, who calmly knocked down a 22-foot three-point jumper with just four seconds left. The shot gave Iowa a 73-72 lead and left the Gators without enough time for a quality response, ending the game in stunning fashion. ### Star of the Game In a losing effort, Florida's Alex Condon delivered a masterful performance. The forward was the catalyst for the Gators' offense all night, finishing with a game-high 21 points while adding five rebounds and a team-high seven assists. Condon was efficient from the floor and made several crucial plays during Florida's second-half comeback, including two powerful dunks that energized the team and the arena. Thomas Haugh also had a standout game for the Gators with 19 points and six rebounds. For the victorious Hawkeyes, Tavion Banks led a balanced scoring attack with 20 points and six rebounds. Four Iowa players scored in double figures, with Cooper Koch's 12 points, all on three-pointers in the second half, proving critical to building their lead. ### What It Means The loss marks a difficult conclusion to the 2026 season for the Florida Gators. The team showed significant fight in erasing a double-digit deficit but ultimately fell just short. The performances from Condon, Haugh, and Lee provide a strong core and a positive outlook for the future. The game was statistically even, with both teams shooting 50% or better from the field and grabbing 27 rebounds each, highlighting the razor-thin margin that decided the outcome. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, the victory is a significant one, showcasing their offensive firepower and clutch execution under pressure. Advancing after such a hard-fought road game provides considerable momentum as they continue their season. --- *Original article: [SEC Men's Basketball: Iowa Hawkeyes Defeats Florida Gators 73-72](https://secscouts.com/news/iowa-hawkeyes-florida-gators-basketball-recap-73-72) — SEC Scouts*