03/26/26 08:50:00
Printable Page
03/26 20:49 CDT Ninth-seeded Iowa continues improbable March run, beating
Nebraska 77-71 to reach Sweet 16
Ninth-seeded Iowa continues improbable March run, beating Nebraska 77-71 to
reach Sweet 16
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) --- Alvaro Folgueiras converted a critical three-point play when
Nebraska only had four defenders on the floor, and ninth-seeded Iowa continued
its unpredictable NCAA Tournament run under first-year coach Ben McCollum,
beating Nebraska 77-71 in a South Region semifinal on Thursday night.
Bennett Stirtz scored 20 points and Folgueiras had 16 for the Hawkeyes (24-12),
who knocked off top-seeded Florida in the second round and will face either
Illinois or Houston on Saturday for a spot in the Final Four. McCollum, who won
four Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State, has now led Iowa
to its fifth Elite Eight and first since 1987.
Fourth-seeded Nebraska (28-7) took an early 10-point lead against its Big Ten
rival, and Iowa tied it four times but never led until Stirtz buried a
3-pointer to make it 68-65 with 2:10 to go. Sage Tate hit another 3 to cap a
9-0 run and put Iowa ahead 71-65.
The Cornhuskers got within three on a second-chance 3 by Braden Frager, but
they were disorganized on the inbound play, leaving Folgueiras unguarded near
the rim. He slammed it home and was fouled, converting the free throw for a
six-point lead.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
|
