Homefield — March Madness

IowaNo. 9

FloridaNo. 1

FinalTBS

51.0%

29.2%

3PT

REB

AST

50.0%

31.6%

3PT

REB

AST

1-seeds are 77-6 (92.8%) vs 9-seeds since 1985.

Banks and Iowa Stun Top-Seed Florida, 73-72

Ninth-seeded Iowa knocked off Florida 73-72 behind Tavion Banks's 20-point, six-rebound performance and a decisive edge on the offensive glass.

Tavion Banks finished with 20 points and four offensive rebounds in 30 minutes, converting 7-of-10 from the field and repeatedly giving Iowa second-chance opportunities that Florida simply could not answer. He was at his most damaging in the paint, where his four offensive boards directly extended possessions and kept the Hawkeyes ahead in a game decided by one point.

Alvaro Folgueiras provided the most efficient complementary line on either team: 14 points on just 5 field goal attempts, going 6-of-6 from the free throw line in only 17 minutes. Bennett Stirtz shot 5-of-16 and missed all nine three-point attempts, yet still contributed 13 points and five assists without letting his shooting collapse drag Iowa into a turnover spiral.

Iowa's 10 offensive rebounds to Florida's 9 was a narrow margin, but in a one-point game those extra possessions are the difference between a bracket upset and a first-round exit. Florida's Thomas Haugh was excellent -- 19 points on 11-of-12 from the line -- but Alex Condon's 5-of-9 from the free throw line on 9 attempts left points on the board that Florida could not recover in the final seconds.

Game Story

The Iowa Hawkeyes narrowly escaped with a 73-72 victory over the Florida Gators in a thriller.•Alex Condon led the charge with 21 points adding 5 rebounds and 7 assists in defeat.•Tavion Banks fired back with 20 points for the Hawkeyes.•Iowa's bench outscored Florida's 16-3.•Thomas Haugh also contributed 19 points.•The Iowa Hawkeyes narrowly escaped with a 73-72 victory over the Florida Gators in a thriller.•Alex Condon led the charge with 21 points adding 5 rebounds and 7 assists in defeat.•Tavion Banks fired back with 20 points for the Hawkeyes.•Iowa's bench outscored Florida's 16-3.•Thomas Haugh also contributed 19 points.•