LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Jay Alvarez (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area [Houston Christian]) tied his career high with 28 points, but the Rider University men's basketball team was edged by Iona, 73-67, Thursday night at Alumni Gym. The loss snaps the Broncs' (7-12, 3-5 MAAC) three-game winning streak, while Iona improves to 7-12 (4-4 MAAC).

Iona created separation in the early going with an 8-0 run to take a 19-12 advantage at the 11:02 mark. A T.J. Weeks Jr. (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken Catholic [UMass]) three-pointer cut the deficit to 21-19 with just over eight minutes left in the half and the deficit remained just three following Alvarez's lay-up with 1:35 left in the half. But the Gaels scored the period's final four points to take a 34-27 advantage into the locker room. Alvarez led the Broncs with 13 points and five rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. The Gaels took a 12-4 edge in points off turnovers in the half.  

The Broncs used a 6-0 run early in the second half to pull to within one on a Week's Jr. three-pointer at the 16:58 mark. Another 7-0 run gave the Broncs a three-point lead, 50-47, with Alvarez sparking the run with consecutive buckets, before Flash Burton (Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) completed a three-point play at the 11-minute mark.

Rider continued to lead by three following a Weeks Jr. triple at the 8:24 mark, but Iona answered with a 9-0 run to reestablish a six-point lead. Rider twice cut the deficit to one and trailed by two with the ball and 39 seconds left. But an errant pass in the backcourt gave the ball back to Iona and the Gaels made four-straight free throws to ice the game.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Really disappointing and frustrating loss tonight. Can't say it any clearer. Can't say it any better. Really disappointing."

"We talked about 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. And for no reason at all. Disappointing."

"Just poor execution. We went back to doing the things that we were doing in that losing streak. We went back to that team and not the team that we had been the last three games." – Rider Men's Basketball Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider and Iona entered the game as part of a five-team logjam tied for fifth in the league standings, with Manhattan, Siena and Fairfield also at 3-4. Fairfield and Siena earned victories tonight, with the Broncs dropping into a three-way tie for eighth with Manhattan and Sacred Heart.
- Rider is 6-0 this season when holding the opposition to fewer than 72 points and dropped to 1-12 when allowing 72 or more.
- Iona now leads the all-time series with Rider, 48-29.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Alvarez matched his previous career high of 28 points, established for Houston Christian last season against Northwestern State (Jan. 15, 2024).
- Alvarez made 13-of-24 from the floor and both of his free-throw attempts. He also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and made two steals.
- The last time a Rider player made 13 field goals came last Jan. 5, when Mervin James made 13-of-19 in a 31-point effort. The last time a Rider player made 14 or more field goals was Mario Porter with a 14-of-18 effort to score 31 vs. FDU on Dec. 31, 2000. Only twice has a Bronc had 15 or more field goals made – George Abel with 21 vs. Cathedral in the 1939-40 season and Greg Cisson with 15 vs. Lafayette on Dec. 16, 1967.
- Tariq Ingraham (Philadelphia, PA/Bonner-Prendergast [Wake Forest]) added 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added five rebounds and two assists.
- Weeks Jr. added 13 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists. He made 4-of-12 from the floor, including 3-of-10 from long range.
- Burton chipped in with six points, a season-high seven assists, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
- Ruben Rodriguez (Reading, PA/Reading) also dished out five assists and grabbed four rebounds.
- Iona edged the Broncs from the floor, 46.6 percent (27-58) to 45.9 percent (28-61), including a 28.0 percent (7-25) to 23.8 percent (5-21) advantage from long range.
- Rider made all six of its free-throw attempts, while Iona made 12-of-14 (85.7 percent).
- The Broncs took a 32-31 edge on the glass, including an 11-10 advantage on offensive rebounds.
- The Broncs piled up a season-high 19 assists, besting their previous high of 17 (Nov. 12 at Navy).  
- Iona outscored the Broncs, 20-10, off turnovers and 15-4 in fast-break points.
- The Broncs took a 40-36 edge in the paint and a 13-7 advantage in second-chance points.
- Iona's bench outscored that of Rider, 21-9.
- The Gaels led for 28:43 of game time to the Broncs' 7:48 with a lead.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they travel to Quinnipiac. Opening tip from M&T Bank Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.