FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College men's basketball team (12-9, 4-8 CAC) suffered its third straight Capital Athletic Conference defeat Wednesday, falling 56-54 to the Frostburg State University Bobcats (11-10, 8-4 CAC) at BB&T Arena.

Hood had things clicking on all cylinders at the onset of the first half, knocking down seven of its first 10 shots from the floor to take a commanding 16-4 lead at the 11:05 mark. Cameron Cook contributed seven of Hood's first 16 points, including a three-pointer that capped Hood's strong first-half surge. However the final seven minutes were a struggle for the Blazers, who only made one field goal in the last 7:19 of the stanza. A pair of Reggie Daniels free throws gave Hood a 25-21 edge heading into the break.

The two squads traded baskets to start the second half before DeSean Antoine tied the game at 34-34 when he swished a triple as the shot clock ticked down to single digits. The Bobcats held the advantage until a conventional three-point play by Daniels knotted things up again at 39-39 at the 11:53 mark.

Down the stretch the lead changed hands five times and the score was tied twice more. Trailing 53-50 with 2:49 to go, Lavar Rich came up with a nice rejection on a Maurice Williams layup and smothered the rebound after a tie-up with a Frostburg player. FSU's Bradley Nunn was whistled for a foul at the other end, sending Ramon Smith to the line for two shots. Smith hit both to make it a one-point game and Frostburg called timeout. The Blazers came up with a huge play on the ensuing possession as Cook picked off a steal from Tyler Logan and rifled the ball ahead to Rich who slammed it home with both hands to regain the lead for Hood, 54-53, with 2:08 to play in regulation.

Frostburg's Williams hit a clutch shot for the Bobcats at the other end to snag the lead back with 1:44 to go. After a Blazer turnover, the Bobcats were unable to extend their lead further after Logan missed a layup but the carom deflected off a Hood player, allowing the Bobcats to maintain possession. Smith was then called for a foul with 37 seconds left, sending Antoine to the line for two shots. Antoine missed the first but made the second, making it a two-point game.

Seven seconds later, Smith and Antoine were involved in a bit of role reversal at the other end as this time it was Antoine who fouled Smith. After connecting on both foul shots a few moments earlier, this time Smith was unable to convert either attempt and FSU's Bradley Nunn grabbed the board off the second miss. Antoine was fouled once again by Rich and he went to the line for a 1-and-1 opportunity with 21 seconds left. Antoine's first attempt was off the mark and Justin Stone snared the rebound for Hood and pushed the ball up the court. A pass was deflected out of bounds by FSU with nine seconds remaining and Hood called a timeout to set up the potential game-winning play. In the closing seconds, it was Cook who launched what would have been the go-ahead three-pointer but it rimmed out. Smith's putback off the Cook miss was no good and Rich's attempt just before the buzzer wouldn't fall and the Bobcats escaped with the victory.

With the setback and a victory by Salisbury University over Marymount University tonight, Hood falls to seventh place in the CAC standings while the Bobcats move into a tie for third place with the York College (Pa.) Spartans.

Cook finished with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and three blocks while Rich and first-time starter Terrell Buyck chipped in eight points apiece. The Blazers outrebounded the Bobcats, 44-33, but fell victim to sub-par foul shooting after connecting on just 11-of-22 from the stripe.

The Blazers look to get back on the winning track Saturday at Stevenson University. The Blazers and eighth-place Mustangs clash at 4 p.m.