LAWRENCEVILLE — The biggest key for Rider to continue its winning streak was to not turn the ball over against an opponent that forces them more than any other team in the MAAC. Seventeen mostly unforced errors later, including a killer one with 24 seconds remaining, and the Broncs’ feel-good vibes were as cold as the outside temperature following a 73-67 loss to Iona on Thursday night at Alumni Gymnasium. “If we could take care of the ball we felt like we could have a good chance to win the game and we turned it over 17 times for no reason at all,” coach Kevin Baggett said. “… This is one of the most disappointing losses that we’ve had all year for a number of reasons.” Rider (7-12, 3-5) had its three-game winning run halted and dropped an important swing game to the Gaels (7-12, 4-4) in the process. Those two teams were among five in a logjam for fifth place when the night started. The Broncs are still in the top 10 after results elsewhere, but they have a trip to co-leader Quinnipiac (11-8, 7-1) on Saturday. This was also the fifth league game that has been within one-possession game in the final minute, but Rider is 1-4 in those games. It also dropped to 1-5 inside Alumni Gymnasium. Six of its seven wins are on the road. “I don’t know what distractions they have here. I have no idea,” Baggett said. “That’s a million dollar question for me as well. None of my teams have struggled this bad at home. We’re accustomed to winning at home. This group I don’t know what it is. I don’t know what their focus is when they are in the dorms or what have you but it’s not good.” Even more disappointing was this was very winnable game that they let get away. Jay Alvarez had a career night — his off-ball movement on cuts to the basket were terrific — with 28 points while logging 39 minutes. Rider had rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to lead by three on three separate occasions in the second half, but couldn’t build on it and Iona answered with a basket, which usually came from freshman guard Adam Njie Jr. as he finished with 23 points and five assists. The Gaels surged in front with a 9-0 run to lead by six with 6:08 remaining, and although the Broncs had it down two after Alvarez converted a three-point play with 1:12 remaining, a turnover with 24 seconds left by freshman guard Flash Burton all but sealed the game. After Njie Jr. made two free throws with 20.4 seconds to go to make it a four-point game, Burton, who was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Monday, missed a pull-up 3. “We don’t need heroes,” Baggett said. “Do what you’re asked to do.” That wasn’t where the game was lost. It was the unforced errors — even having to burn a pair of timeouts before the under-12 media timeout trying to get the ball inbounded — that added up to another game slipping away. “We got to start playing desperate because we are giving games away, especially at home,” Baggett said. “You should take care of home. We didn’t beat them here so now we got to go play them down there. We got to be ready. We got to take care of the ball. We got to execute and do the things we are asking them to do.” Notes: Zion Cruz managed just nine minutes after he rolled his ankle on an awkward landing in the first half. Cruz missed the first three games of the season with a foot injury. “There are a lot of things Zion has to understand about taking care of his body at this level that he doesn’t understand, which is what we’re working on with him,” Baggett said. … Tariq Ingraham finished with 15 points and T.J. Weeks Jr. scored 13. … Iona forces 17 turnovers per game, which ranks third nationally, and were +10 (20-10 in points off turnovers). The Gaels also rank second nationally at 16 offensive rebounds per game. They only had 10 and Rider was +6 in second-chance points (13-7). … Rider only got to the free throw line six times against a team that was putting opponents at the stripe 21.3 times per game.