Iowa Hawkeyes Edge Florida Gators in Close Contest
Sunday, March 22, 2026, 7:10 PM ET · Benchmark International Arena
Iowa Hawkeyes 73, Florida Gators 72, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Iowa Hawkeyes vs Florida Gators?
Iowa Hawkeyes beat Florida Gators 73-72 at Benchmark International Arena on March 22, 2026.
Who was favored in Iowa Hawkeyes vs Florida Gators?
Florida Gators were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -625 (about 86% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at the Benchmark International Arena, the Iowa Hawkeyes narrowly defeated the Florida Gators with a final score of 73-72. This game highlighted the competitive nature of the NCAAB tournament, showcasing the resilience of Iowa as they overcame a challenging opponent. The Gators entered the game with a strong home record of 27-8 and had been performing well recently, boasting a 9-1 record over their last ten games, although they faced a setback with a loss in their latest outing against the Vanderbilt Commodores. In contrast, Iowa, with a record of 23-12, had struggled in their recent form, posting a 3-7 record in their last ten games, indicating a significant contrast in momentum heading into this matchup.
The Gators had averaged 88.0 points scored per game over their last ten, while allowing 73.9 points, reflecting their high-scoring offense but also some defensive vulnerabilities. Their last five games showed an average of 89.6 points scored, but they allowed 76.4 points, further emphasizing their offensive capabilities. On the other hand, Iowa's recent form was less impressive, averaging 68.5 points scored and 71.0 points allowed in their last ten games. This discrepancy in scoring averages suggested that the Gators would be favored to win, as indicated by the betting lines.
DraftKings set the spread at -10.5 in favor of Florida, with a total of 145.5 points for the game. The money line reflected a strong belief in a Gators victory, with Florida priced at -625 and Iowa at 455. This context underscored the expectations surrounding the Gators as they played on their home court, where they had a record of 5-1 in their last six games.
The game unfolded with intense back-and-forth scoring. Key moments included Thomas Haugh making two free throws to tie the game at 66, followed by a layup from Alex Condon that put Iowa ahead. The Gators responded with a dunk from Tavion Banks, but Iowa maintained their composure and continued to push back. The final moments of the game were particularly dramatic, with Isaiah Brown giving Florida a brief lead before Alvaro Folgueiras hit a crucial three-pointer for Iowa, sealing the victory.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing from either team, suggesting both squads were at full strength for this critical matchup. The conditions in the arena were conducive to a high-energy game, with both teams feeding off the atmosphere.
Overall, this game was a testament to the unpredictability of tournament play, where Iowa's determination and strategic execution allowed them to pull off a narrow victory against a formidable Florida team. The Hawkeyes' ability to capitalize on key moments and maintain their composure under pressure proved decisive in this thrilling encounter.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | FLA -10.5 | 145.5 o -112 / u -108 | Iowa Hawkeyes +455 · Florida Gators -625 |
Leaders
- PointsAlex Condon21Florida Gators
- AssistsAlex Condon7Florida Gators
- ReboundsThomas Haugh6Florida Gators
- PointsTavion Banks20Iowa Hawkeyes
- AssistsKael Combs6Iowa Hawkeyes
- ReboundsTavion Banks6Iowa Hawkeyes
Recent form
Florida Gators
Last 10: 9-1Streak L188 scored · 73.9 allowed per game5-1 at home
- L74-91vs Vanderbilt CommodoresMar 14
- W71-63vs Kentucky WildcatsMar 13
- W84-77at Kentucky WildcatsMar 7
- W108-74vs Mississippi State BulldogsMar 4
- W111-77vs Arkansas RazorbacksMar 1
- W84-71at Texas LonghornsFeb 26
- W94-75at Ole Miss RebelsFeb 21
- W76-62vs South Carolina GamecocksFeb 18
- W92-83vs Kentucky WildcatsFeb 14
- W86-66at Georgia BulldogsFeb 12
Iowa Hawkeyes
Last 10: 3-7Streak L168.5 scored · 71 allowed per game0-5 away
- L69-72at Ohio State BuckeyesMar 12
- W75-64vs Maryland TerrapinsMar 11
- L75-84at Nebraska CornhuskersMar 8
- L68-71vs Michigan WolverinesMar 6
- L69-71at Penn State Nittany LionsFeb 28
- W74-57vs Ohio State BuckeyesFeb 26
- L71-84at Wisconsin BadgersFeb 22
- W57-52vs Nebraska CornhuskersFeb 18
- L57-78vs Purdue BoilermakersFeb 14
- L70-77at Maryland TerrapinsFeb 11
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
| Florida | 27-8 | - | 16-2 |
| Arkansas | 28-9 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Alabama | 25-10 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Vanderbilt | 27-9 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Tennessee | 25-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Texas A&M | 22-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| Georgia | 22-11 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Kentucky | 22-14 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Missouri | 20-13 | 6 | 10-8 |
| Texas | 21-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Auburn | 22-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma | 21-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Mississippi State | 13-19 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Ole Miss | 15-20 | 12 | 4-14 |
| South Carolina | 13-19 | 12 | 4-14 |
| LSU | 15-17 | 13 | 3-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Iowa Hawkeyes | Florida Gators |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-51 | 23-46 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 7-24 | 6-19 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 32 |
| Free throws | 14-22 | 20-27 |
| Free throw % | 64 | 74 |
| Rebounds | 27 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 17 | 18 |
| Assists | 14 | 18 |
| Steals | 4 | 7 |
| Blocks | 0 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 8 |
| Fast-break points | 9 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 30 |
| Fouls | 19 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 12 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 66 | 23 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half38-36Thomas Haugh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half38-37Thomas Haugh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-37Tavion Banks makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kael Combs assists)
- 2nd Half44-37Cooper Koch makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kael Combs assists)
- 2nd Half46-37Alvaro Folgueiras makes driving layup
- 2nd Half46-39Alex Condon makes 8-foot floating jump shot (Xaivian Lee assists)
- 2nd Half48-39Bennett Stirtz makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half51-39Cooper Koch makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tavion Banks assists)
- 2nd Half51-42Thomas Haugh makes 25-foot three point jumper (Boogie Fland assists)
- 2nd Half51-43Thomas Haugh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-44Thomas Haugh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-44Kael Combs makes driving layup
- 2nd Half53-45Thomas Haugh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-45Alvaro Folgueiras makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-45Alvaro Folgueiras makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-46Urban Klavzar makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-47Urban Klavzar makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-48Alex Condon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-49Alex Condon makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-51Alex Condon makes 3-foot dunk (Urban Klavzar assists)
- 2nd Half57-51Cam Manyawu makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half57-53Alex Condon makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-56Xaivian Lee makes 25-foot three point jumper (Alex Condon assists)
- 2nd Half58-56Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-58Isaiah Brown makes 1-foot dunk (Thomas Haugh assists)
- 2nd Half58-60Alex Condon makes 2-foot dunk (Xaivian Lee assists)
- 2nd Half61-60Cooper Koch makes 24-foot three point jumper (Bennett Stirtz assists)
- 2nd Half61-63Thomas Haugh makes 26-foot three point jumper (Xaivian Lee assists)
- 2nd Half61-65Thomas Haugh makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-65Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-65Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-65Cooper Koch makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half66-66Thomas Haugh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-67Thomas Haugh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-69Alex Condon makes layup (Thomas Haugh assists)
- 2nd Half68-69Tavion Banks makes 1-foot dunk (Alvaro Folgueiras assists)
- 2nd Half68-71Xaivian Lee makes layup (Alex Condon assists)
- 2nd Half70-71Bennett Stirtz makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half70-72Isaiah Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-72Alvaro Folgueiras makes 22-foot three point jumper (Bennett Stirtz assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Florida Gators, below favours Iowa Hawkeyes.
Venue
- Benchmark International ArenaTampa, FL
- Attendance14717
- OfficialsBert Smith, Joe Lindsay, Randy Richardson
Elsewhere
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
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- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
- All-SEC F Mitchell reenrolls at Missouri, avoids transfer battle
- Duke's Coach K Court to have sponsorship logo for first time
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