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mar 29 2026NCAA March Madness reached one of its decisive moments with Illinois' victory over Iowa (71-59) in the Elite Eight, a result that ends Spanish center Álvaro Folgueiras' run in the American college basketball tournament. The Illini's triumph, led by Keaton Wagler and Andrej Stojakovic, secures their spot in the March Madness Final Four, where they will face Arizona, the tournament's top favorite.
The game made Iowa's challenge clear from the opening minutes. The Hawkeyes, who had impressed throughout March Madness by eliminating high-level opponents like Florida, faced a much more solid rival this time. Illinois punished Iowa consistently in the paint and controlled the game's tempo, especially in the second half, relying on the offensive talent of Keaton Wagler, who scored 25 points, and the contribution of Andrej Stojakovic, who added 17 points.
In the opening minutes, Bennett Stirtz kept Iowa's offense afloat with 15 points in the first twelve minutes, keeping his team competitive. However, Illinois' defense gradually increased its pressure on the Hawkeyes' perimeter, forcing other players to take on greater offensive responsibility. The Illini's interior dominance, especially in situations near the basket, ultimately decided the game. Illinois finished with 40 points in the paint, a key figure in understanding how the game unfolded.
In that context, Álvaro Folgueiras' role was very different from his performance in earlier March Madness rounds. The Spanish center played just 9 minutes, limited by the physical superiority of Iowa's interior defense and by head coach Ben McCollum's decision to deploy more mobile lineups to try to offset that disadvantage. The elimination marks the end of a brilliant tournament run for Iowa.
Meanwhile, NCAA March Madness has already crowned one of the tournament's top contenders. Arizona, considered the top favorite, confirmed its championship credentials by defeating Purdue (79-64) and securing its own Final Four berth. The Wildcats decided the game in the second half with the leadership of Koa Peat, who scored 20 points, and German guard Ivan Kharchenkov, who added 18.
The March Madness Final Four will take place in Indianapolis, where Illinois and Arizona will battle for a spot in the final of American college basketball's most important tournament.
