BAY MINETTE, Ala.—Faulkner State's Sun Chiefs battled back all night long but fell just short, losing 72-69 Thursday night to Chattahoochee Valley in Bay Minette.

Coach Jack Robertson's team and the visitors from Phenix City went back and forth all evening long. Two Sun Chief three-point attempts in the final five seconds wouldn't fall and the Pirates had the three-point win.

The loss dropped FSCC to 11-9 overall and 2-2 in the league. CVCC improved to 13-6 overall and 4-0 in league action.

Foley's Rafael Adams and Bay Minette's Xavier Dortch each tossed in 15 points to pace FSCC in scoring.

A.J. Roulhac added fourteen and Deshun Tucker had 13 for the Sun Chiefs while Reagan Eubanks (Spanish Fort), Josh Milsap, and Chris Joyner each netted four points as a depleted FSCC team went the entire game with just seven players seeing the court.

CVCC jumped out early, leading 7-2 after two minutes of action. Eubanks and Adams each sank jumpers to trim it to 7-6 and Dortch had two driving buckets to make it an 8-8 game.

It was back and forth the next ten minutes—Dortch sinking a three and Roulhac and Tucker making a pair of baskets each. Two free throws from Tucker with 4:42 left in the half finally gave the Chiefs a lead at 24-23.

Faulkner trailed 29-27 with 1:11 left when Roulhac sank back-to-back threes to push the Sun Chiefs to a 33-29  halftime lead.

Eight points early in the second half from Adams kept FSCC in front and they led by eight twice at 49-41 and 56-48. But the visitors' James Barnes spearheaded a Pirate comeback and they finally caught FSCC at 60-60 with 5:20 remaining.

It was 64-60 CVCC when Dortch sank a long three and Joyner had a dunk to regain the lead at 65-64. CVCC then outscored Faulkner 8-2 over the next two minutes to lead 72-67 with 20 seconds left.

Tucker worked inside for two and was fouled with 14 seconds remaining. Tucker missed the free throw but moments later Eubanks got a steal and called timeout. The Sun Chiefs then missed two three pointers and CVCC held on for the win.

Faulkner is back in action on Monday, going to Selma to take on Wallace of Selma.