‘I’m so lucky to have her’: Iowa game-winner pays tribute to mother after shocking No 1 Florida

Alvaro Folgueiras nails three-pointer in final seconds
Gators are first No seed to exit this year’s tournament
Under first-year coach Ben McCollum, Iowa reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015, while Florida (27-8) became the first No 1 seed to be knocked out of this year’s March Madness.

The ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (23-12) wasted a 12-point lead in the second half but rallied in the final minutes.

They will face No 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semi-finals on Thursday night in Houston.

The Gators led 72-70 with just eight seconds left.

But Iowa easily broke Florida’s full-court press and Folguerias was wide open in the corner for his three.

Florida didn’t get a shot off before the buzzer, with Xaivian Lee’s desperate drive ending with a pass that Thomas Haugh couldn’t handle.

“She sent a 16-year-old kid to America without knowing any English ...

without anything but dreams and hunger,” he said.

“And this one is for her and my dad.

He’s watching up there.”
Folguerias’s mother was at the game, the first time she had seen him play in person in two years, and the pair embraced as they celebrated Iowa’s win.

“Sometimes, when I struggle through basketball – and basketball is life – I think of my mom as an example of resilience, and that really inspires me and gives me confidence,” Folgueiras said.

“Because she’s not just a fighter; she’s a super special person.

I’m so lucky to have her as a mom.”
A scuffle broke out just past the midpoint of the first half with Iowa leading 19-13 when Alex Condon and Folgueiras battled for a loose ball.

Folgueiras swung his arm back but didn’t follow through with a punch and the players had to be separated.

Florida coach Todd Golden sprinted on to the floor to help calm things down, and both players were assessed technical fouls.