SURPRISE, Ariz. – The No. 4-ranked and third-seeded Lander men's tennis team saw its season come to an end on Wednesday afternoon against Washburn in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Center. 

The Bearcats (22-4) fell to the Ichabods (14-5) 5-3, ending Lander's season. Washburn will advance to the quarterfinals to face Indianapolis on Thursday afternoon. 

Lander's season ended with a school record for wins in a single season, an appearance in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship, a Southeast Regional title and the program's sixth trip to the Round of 16 in eight years. 

For the first time in the NCAA Tournament, Lander fell behind in doubles action. The Bearcats picked up a point from Eirik Groner and Ozan Cildir at No. 2 doubles with an 8-2 win, but Washburn took a 2-1 lead with a tiebreaker win at No. 3. 

The Bearcats fought out of a 3-1 hole with wins by Omar El-Moslemany at No. 5 and Cildir at No. 3 in singles to tie the match at 3-3. However, the Ichabods closed out the match with a pair of points at the top two spots to earn a berth in the quarterfinals. 

13 of Lander's 14 players this season are slated to return in 2019, with David Korsten the lone graduating senior on the team.