For the first time since 1995, Iowa is headed to the quarterfinal round of the boys basketball playoffs.

No. 5 Iowa cruised by No. 12 Lutcher 75-55 in the regional round Monday, using a hot hand and strong defensive unit off the bench to pull away early.

The Jackets (26-4) will face the winner of tonight’s game between No. 4 Donaldsonville and No 13 Frederick Douglass later this week.

Iowa would host Douglass and travel to Donaldsonville.

Either way, head coach Rob Melanson doesn’t think his team is done.

“This was one more step, but I don’t think we’re finished, at least I hope we aren’t,”  he said.

“We’re good enough to win the next ball game. We’ve got to correct some mistakes and take care of the ball better.”

Iowa reserve Deshawn Ceaser sparked the Yellow Jackets, scoring 17 first-half points off the bench. Eight of the points came in a 12-0 run that gave Iowa the lead for good.

Bench players scored 22 of Iowa’s 33 first-half points with the starting five plagued by foul trouble and poor shooting.

“Ceasar has been on fire,” Melanson said. “We bring him off the bench and he gives us a boost.”

Lutcher made only three of nine first half free throw attempts. Iowa was 12 of 16 from the charity stripe in the half.

Iowa guard Desamonte Gradney scored 22 in the second half. He finished with 25 points. Ceaser scored a game-high 26.

Lutcher (19-9) never got closer than 11 points in the second half. Jeremiah Pierre led the Bulldogs with 15 points. D’wayne Whitfield, Jaedon Pierre and Dale Smith scored 10 points each.