NMAC BTWN 2 OPPOSITE DIRECTION SMA'S.

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I WAS WBOUND ON V422 AT 4500; ON A FLT FROM CAK TO VPZ. I HAD CONTACTED S BEND APCH WHEN 6 MI W OF ASW FOR VFR ADVISORIES. WHEN APPROX 10 MI E OF OXI VOR; SBN CALLED ME WITH AN INSTRUCTION; WHICH I HEARD AS 'SMA X; NEED YOU TO DSND OUT OF 4500.' I RESPONDED; 'SMA X; DSNDING FROM 4500 FT.' SBN DID NOT QUESTION THIS ERROR. I BEGAN DSNDING; AND WHEN REACHING 3700 MY PAX AND I SIMULTANEOUSLY SPOTTED ONCOMING TFC; 11 O'CLOCK; LESS THAN 1000 FT AHEAD AT 3500 FT. THE TFC BROKE TO HIS R; AND I STOPPED MY DSCNT AND STARTED A R CLBING TURN JUST AS SBN CALLED; 'SMA X; DO NOT DSND -- DO NOT DSND.' I REPLIED: 'SMA X; I HAVE HIM IN SIGHT.' SBN: 'SMA X; I TOLD YOU NOT TO DSND DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME?' SMA X: 'SMA X I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU NEEDED ME TO DSND FROM 4500. SORRY.' SBN: 'WELL; TFC IS BEHIND YOU NOW. YOU CAN GO TO THE ALT YOU WANT.' SMA X: 'ROGER...' MY COMMENTS: I'LL TAKE 1/2 THE BLAME. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN LISTENING HARDER AND I SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THE INSTRUCTION OR ASKED FOR A REPEAT. HOWEVER; I FEEL THE CTLR'S PHRASEOLOGY WAS POOR. HE SHOULD HAVE SAID 'SMA X; TFC AT 3500 OPPOSITE DIRECTION. MAINTAIN YOU PRESENT ALT.' CHALK UP ONE MORE NEAR MISS TO POOR COMS.