FREDERICK, Md.--The upset bid by the Hood College men's basketball team (10-9, 6-5 CAC) came up just short as the No. 16 St. Mary's College (Md.) Seahawks (16-4, 10-1 CAC) eked out a 71-67 Capital Athletic Conference win over the Blazers Monday evening at Frederick Community College.

Hood built as much as a nine-point lead in the opening stanza, using a Cameron Cook bucket to go up 26-17 with 8:06 remaining. The Seahawks reeled off the final six points of the stanza and trailed by two, 32-30, at the break.

After a fast-break layup by Brenden Straughn gave the Blazers a 46-40 advantage at the 13:30 mark, SMCM's Devin Spencer drilled three straight long-range bombs to regain a 49-40 lead for the guests. The Blazers battled but were unable to grab the lead back the rest of the way.

A pair of free throws by Tyler Snoots drew Hood to within four with less than a minute to play, but Hood got no closer as the Seahawks escaped with the narrow victory.

Cook paced the Blazers once again with 18 points, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor. Snoots pumped in 15 points and six boards while Straughn also reached double figures thanks to a last-second three-pointer and dished eight assists. LaVar Rich, playing in his former home gym, tallied nine points and four caroms while Herb Bowen knocked down a pair of treys for six points.

St. Mary's buried eight threes in the game, including six in the second half, and had three players in double figures. Sam Burum had 17 points, while Spencer finished with 14 and Chris Hutchinson contributed 10.

Hood hits the road Wednesday for a CAC tilt at Frostburg State University. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.