EVANSTON, Ill. — After rallying all the way back from a three-point deficit, No. 7 Columbia fell in a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to No. 34 Northwestern at the Combe Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
It was the Lions' first loss to a team ranked outside the top 15 since April 15, 2018.
 
For the second straight match, Columbia (6-3) would give up the early lead as the Wildcats secured the doubles point with wins at the top two courts. The Lions used another new lineup, with Austen Huang and Jackie Tang teaming up for a win on court three.
 
Northwestern (7-4) stretched its lead to three as Adam Ambrozy and Alex Kotzen were each defeated in straight sets on courts four and five, respectively.
 
With a fire underneath them, the comeback began to mount as No. 25 Jack Lin took down No. 113 Dominik Stary at one singles after dropping the first set, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2. Huang tacked on another for Columbia, remaining undefeated in dual matches this season with a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-2 result.
 
Coming down to No. 88 Tang at court two and Rian Pandole on three, Pandole would even out the team scoring with a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4 victory, leaving it up to Tang who was already in a third-set breaker. Ultimately, Tang was taken down by Steven Forman, 7-6 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (4).
 
Columbia returns home next Saturday, March 7, to face off against FAU at 1 p.m. ET inside the Dick Savitt Tennis Center.

For the latest on the Columbia men's tennis, follow @ColumbiaMTennis on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.