MINNEAPOLIS -- Iowa held off a late rally to defeat East Tennessee State 76-73 Thursday and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tourney's Midwest Regional.
The Hawkeyes took the lead for good with 4:22 to play on a basket by James Winters, but had to ward off several rallies by the Buccaneers.
Rodney English, who led the game with 25 points, hit a driving lay-in with 1:45 to go to pull East Tennessee to within two at 67-65. But the Hawkeyes' Rodell Davis stole the ball and got it to James Moses, who scored with 1:22 left.
A steal and three-point basket by Keith 'Mister' Jennings shaved Iowa's lead to 72-70 with 16.6 seconds left, but Troy Skinner hit a pair of free throws for the Hawkeyes.
Jerry Pelphrey canned a three-pointer with five seconds left to give East Tennessee a last chance at 74-73. But Pelphrey fouled Moses after the play and Moses hit both free throws with 2.8 seconds left.
Acie Earl led the Hawkeyes with 18 points, going 10 for 14 at the free throw line. Skinner and Moses added 14 apiece for the Hawkeyes, who will play Duke Saturday in the Midwest Regional second round.
Duke defeated Northeast Louisiana 102-73 in Thursday's first Midwest game.
East Tennessee State lost in the first round for the third straight year.
The Buccaneers trailed 2-0 but then took the lead and held it throughout the first half. Trazel Silvers scored four straight points on a steal and slam and added an easy basket underneath to give the Buccaneers a 16-9 lead.
Alvin West sank a three-pointer two minutes later to upEast Tennessee's lead to 19-11.
Iowa climbed back to within 28-22 on two Davis free throws, but English's jumper started the Buccaneers on a 6-2 run. English canned a basket at the end of the streak to give his team a 10-point lead at 34- 24.
English had 12 first half points to lead both teams.
In the second half, the Buccaneers led by as many as five points with 7:22 to go at 61-56. But Iowa then scored seven straight points, capped by Davis' three-pointer with 5:40 remaining.
East Tennessee tied it at 63-63 on two Marty Story free throws, but could never again regain the lead.
