The Iowa Hawkeyes are returning to the Elite Eight. That’s not unusual, right? Caitlin Clark did it in 2023 and 2024. Megan Gustafson led them there in 2019.

No. This hasn’t happened since 1987. The Iowa men’s basketball team made the Elite Eight on Thursday with a 77-71 comeback win against Nebraska.

The Hawkeyes didn’t take their first lead until a Bennett Stirtz 3-pointer put them up 68-65 with 2:12 left in the game, part of a 15-3 run that put Iowa in control.

A 3-pointer by former Hawkeye Pryce Sandfort closed the scoring with 4 seconds left, but by then it was too late for Nebraska. Alvaro Folgueiras had already put the exclamation point on the game with two dunks and a free throw.

Folgueiras finished with 16 points, while Stirtz led all Hawkeyes with 20. Tate Sage added 19.

Now, Iowa has a chance to advance to its first Final Four since 1980. Standing in the Hawkeyes’ way? It could be the Fighting Illini. Illinois is playing Houston right now.

We’ll have coverage from Houston tonight on Our Quad Cities News at 9 on Fox 18 KLJB and Our Quad Cities News at 10 on Local 4 WHBF.

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