HOUSTON — For the first time in nearly four decades, the Iowa Hawkeyes are heading to the Elite Eight.
In a gritty comeback at the Toyota Center on Thursday night, the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes erased a double-digit deficit to stun fourth-seeded Nebraska, 77-71. The victory marks Iowa’s first trip to the regional finals since 1987 and continues a historic “giant-killer” run that has seen them topple No. 8 Clemson, No. 1 Florida, and now the Huskers in just seven days.
Trailing 46-43 after a high-octane first half, the Hawkeyes leaned on a defensive masterclass in the second frame. After allowing 46 points in the opening 20 minutes, Iowa clamped down, holding Nebraska to just 25 points on 28.1 percent shooting the rest of the way.
The game remained a seesaw affair until the final minutes. With the score knotted at 65, Bennett Stirtz drained a deep three-pointer late in the shot clock with 2:10 remaining to give Iowa its first lead of the night. Stirtz, who played all 40 minutes for the 17th time this season, finished with a team-high 20 points and four assists without committing a single turnover.
Stirtz’s veteran composure was matched by a record-breaking performance from freshman Tate Sage. Sage poured in a career-high 19 points, tying the school record for the most points by an Iowa freshman in an NCAA Tournament game. He also added career-highs in rebounds (8) and assists (3), including a critical buzzer-beating triple to close the first half.
The Hawkeyes’ offense was fueled by a relentless perimeter attack, setting a program NCAA Tournament record with 13 made three-pointers. Alvaro Folgueiras remained perfect in the postseason, scoring 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while Cooper Koch added 11 points and three triples.
Despite being outrebounded 35-26, Iowa’s discipline proved to be the difference. The Hawkeyes committed only five turnovers against a Nebraska defense that typically forces 13 per game.
With the win, Iowa becomes just the sixth No. 9 seed in tournament history to reach the Elite Eight and the lowest-seeded Big Ten team ever to do so. The 24th victory of the season ties for the fifth-most in program history.
The Hawkeyes move on to the South Regional Final on Saturday, where they will face a familiar foe in Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:09 p.m. CT.
On January 11, 2026, Illinois defeated Iowa 75–69 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This was the only time the conference foes played this season, and was a significant game as it handed the Hawkeyes their first home loss of the season.
