Another promising season came to a premature end for the Washington University basketball team, continuing the program’s postseason drought since its title runs last decade.

Visiting DePauw University put on an offensive showcase and upset the No. 14 Bears 83-73 in the Field House on Thursday, ending Wash. U.’s season in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

The loss marks the fourth consecutive year that the Bears were eliminated in an early round at home, with the team tallying second-round defeats in each of the last three seasons. Since the team won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, it has not advanced past the second round.

The Bears shot out to an early lead on Thursday, using defensive energy to generate transition opportunities and easy buckets. The team collected a block and three steals in the opening minutes, and a fast-break dunk from senior Nick Burt put the Red and Green ahead 9-3 and forced a DePauw timeout less than three minutes into the game.

But DePauw responded with an unlikely barrage of three-pointers. The Tigers averaged just 6.4 three-pointers per game this season and Wash. U. held its opponents to a respectable 36.5 percent from beyond the arc, but DePauw rode a lineup full of hot hands to connect on nine of 12 first-half attempts (14-21 in the game). Overall, DePauw reached the 80-point mark for just the second time this season and exceeded the Bears’ defensive per-game average by more than 10 points.

Thanks to their shooting and foul trouble for both Burt and senior Matt Palucki, the Tigers built up their lead to as many as 12 in the first half before Wash. U. closed the gap. DePauw went into halftime leading 40-35 after Wash. U. closed the first period on a 15-8 run.

The teams traded baskets for much of the second half, with the Bears taking their first lead of the half on a three-pointer from senior point guard David Fatoki, who led the team with 19 points, with 16:02 to play. But DePauw responded to each Bears’ lead with a basket of its own, and Wash. U.’s largest second-half lead was just one point. There were 12 lead changes overall in the second half.

Palucki, despite being saddled with four fouls, re-entered the game with 3:37 to play and the Bears trailing by two, and he immediately scored five straight points off designed inbounds plays for the Red and Green. But those were the last points of the game for the Bears.

DePauw responded with a flurry of ball movement leading to layups, and after a turnover from Fatoki and missed three-pointer from junior guard Luke Silverman-Lloyd, the Tigers made all six of their free-throw attempts in the final minute to secure the victory.

Four Bears scored in double figures and the team forced 17 DePauw turnovers, but it wasn’t enough to counter the visitors’ balanced scoring—six Tigers scored in double figures, and the team connected on 52.8 percent of its shots. DePauw also outrebounded Wash. U. 35-27, limiting the Bears’ usual diet of second-chance opportunities.

The loss knocked Wash. U.’s season record to 20-6 and ended the careers of Burt, Fatoki, Palucki and point guard Kent Lacob, who tallied a career record of 85-22 and won three University Athletic Association championships.