BOSTON (AP) - Boston College was 0.4 seconds away from escaping with another victory in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge when the Eagles made another mistake that put the game in jeopardy.

After the BC defense kept Iowa from getting a good look at a game-tying or -winning shot, Corey Raji grabbed Andrew Brommer as he tried to turn and put up a desperation 3-pointer to beat the buzzer. The freshman backup forward clanged the first shot off the front of the rim as time expired, and BC could finally exhale with a 57-55 win.

"I told Corey he's got to a little bit smarter than that," BC coach Al Skinner said. "With the clock running down, what are the chances the guy's going to be able to put the ball down, shoot it over you and score?

"It's a discipline thing; we can learn from it."

BC (5-2) improved to 3-0 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge - the only team other than Duke with a perfect record - but the Eagles almost gave it away by scoring just one point after taking a 56-45 lead with 4:45 left.

Jake Kelly made two free throws for Iowa (6-2), then Matt Gatens followed a steal with a 3-pointer and Devan Bawinkel hit another 3 - his fourth of the second half. Gatens made a pair of free throws with 2:09 left to make it 56-55.

It stayed that way until Tyrese Rice, who scored 15 in all, made one of two free throws with 12.5 seconds left. BC kept the Hawkeyes from getting up a shot, but Raji grabbed Brommer as he tried to turn around and throw up a desperation 3-pointer. The officials quickly called the foul but needed to check the TV replays to determine if Brommer was shooting.

"I was just trying to focus on making the free throws and giving us the opportunity to further advance the game," Brommer said. "With free throws, you've got to believe you're going to make it. It doesn't matter how long you have to wait."

The freshman backup forward was given a 1-and-1. He clanged the first one off the front of the rim and time expired.

"With four-tenths of a second left, and he has to make both shots, that's a tough situation," Bawinkel said. "We have to remind him it's not his fault. We made a lot of mistakes before that."

Brommer came into the game 3-for-14 from the line in his career, and he hadn't taken a single shot on the night.

"That was a tough spot for him," Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said. "There are guys that struggle from the line, and he happens to be one of them."

The mistake nearly cost the Eagles the game.

"It's a bang-bang call," Rice said. "Luckily the guy hadn't been to the free throw line or anything the whole game."

Gatens and Bawinkel scored 12 apiece for the Hawkeyes, and Cyrus Tate had seven rebounds. Starting Iowa guard and leading scorer Anthony Tucker was sick and only played eight minutes, going 0-for-2 from the floor and failing to score a point.

Rice, who scored 13 points in the second half and was 9-for-12 from the line, limped into the postgame news conference after getting kicked in the calf.

"I don't care how we win it as long as we win the game," Rice said. "I don't care if it's by one or 100. Numbers don't mean anything to me."