BAY MINETTE - The Faulkner State Community College Sun Chiefs were eliminated from the Alabama Community College Conference state tournament by Lawson of Birmingham, losing 69-64 to the Cougars in Hanceville.

Coach Jack Robertson's Chiefs battled the Cougars throughout the contest and led 59-57 late in the game. But Lawson hit some key shots and held on to advance while the Sun Chiefs ended their season.

The loss dropped Faulkner to 20-11 on the year while Lawson, who were defeated 71-61 by eventual champ Hanceville in the semifinals, improved to 26-6.

FSCC trailed 30-27 at halftime but took three point leads three times midway through the final half. Lawson knotted the score at 52-52 with 7:02 left and moments later took the lead.

Faulkner guard Deshun Tucker's three pointer with 3:43 left gave Robertson and his team a 59-57 lead. Khalil Davis and Da'Shaun Griffin hit key shots down the stretch for Lawson.  Davis led the Cougars with 16 points while Griffin had 13 points.

Four Faulkner starters hit for double digit scoring with two more adding nine points each. Reagan Eubanks, Rafael Adams, and Xavier Dortch all hit for 11 points. The trio, all from county schools (Eubanks from Spanish Fort, Adams from Foley, and Dortch from Baldwin County High), all return next year for Faulkner. Another freshman, Logan Adams, added ten points while Tucker had nine for the Sun Chiefs.

Josh Milsap also netted nine points while sophomore AJ Roulhac had two and sophomore Chris Joyner had one.

Rafael Adams and Logan Adams each pulled down seven rebounds for FSCC, who were beaten 38-34 on the boards in the game. Faulkner had a cold shooting night in the quarterfinal loss. They hit just 23-of-61 field goal attempts including a 7-of-21 three point shooting night.

The free throw line was also key as Faulkner sank just 11-of-22 foul shots while Lawson made 21-of-28. 

Rafael Adams was named to the All-Region second team while earning first team honors in the South Division.