Iowa Beats Rival Nebraska in March Madness as Fans Celebrate 1st Elite 8 Since 1987

Iowa men's basketball is headed to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987 after the No. 9 seed defeated No. 4 seed and Big Ten rival Nebraska 77-71 in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division I tournament on Thursday in Houston.

Bennett Stirtz, who led the Hawkeyes with 20 points, hit a three-pointer with 2:10 left to give Iowa a 68-65 edge, its first lead of the evening.

Stirtz hasn't sat one minute in this tournament. In fact, he's played 38 or more minutes in each of his past 19 games.

After Nebraska came up empty on its next possession, Iowa guard Tate Sage, who scored 19 off the bench, hit another three for a 71-65 advantage.

Nebraska wasn't done, as Braden Frager hit a corner three to cut the deficit in half, 71-68.

Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras then contributed the play of the game, getting well behind the defense, fielding a full-court pass from Kael Combs and finishing the play with a layup plus the foul. Nebraska only had four players on the court.

He hit the free throw to finish the three-point play.

Folgueiras then continued his fantastic late game heroics, grabbing a defensive rebound on the next possession and soon slamming home a baseline dunk for a 76-68 lead to put this one away.

Folgueiras, of course, was the hero on Sunday, when he hit a corner three that led to Iowa's 73-72 upset win over No. 1 seed (and defending national champion) Florida with four seconds left.

Nebraska led this game for over 32 minutes thanks largely to Pryce Sandfort, who finished with a game-high 25 points. Flagler scored 16 off the bench, and he and Sandfort combined to make 11-of-18 threes.

However, outside of those two, Nebraska struggled offensively, making just 11-of-37 shots and 2-of-20 threes. The Cornhuskers scored just six points in the final 6:15.

Ultimately, Iowa authored an incredible effort. The Hawkeyes stuck around despite playing from behind nearly all game and pulled through late against a tough Nebraska team they split the season series with during Big Ten play.

Fans and analysts gave credit to the Hawkeyes, who are hoping to make the Final Four for the first time since 1980. It's a great testament, of course, to first-year head coach Ben McCollum, who has worked wonders since arriving from Drake.

Iowa now awaits the winner of the Sweet Sixteen matchup of No. 2 seed Houston and No. 3 seed Illinois. The Elite Eight game will occur on Saturday.