Iowa held off a furious Clemson comeback in a thrilling NCAA Tournament First Round matchup at Benchmark International Arena. The Hawkeyes built a commanding 14-point lead, pushing ahead 44-33 late in the first half behind a devastating 9-2 scoring run. But the Tigers refused to quit, clawing back with an 8-0 run that kept them within striking distance down the stretch. The final minute was absolute chaos. Kael Combs and Alvaro Folgueiras extended Iowa's lead to 65-57 with clutch buckets and free throws, but Butta Johnson answered with a deep 3-pointer to make it 65-60 with 18 seconds left. Bennett Stirtz sealed it with two free throws for Iowa, holding off Clemson's last gasp at 67-61. The Hawkeyes advance despite a late scare from the determined Tigers.