Kenny Chery had 13 points, starting the game with a 3-pointer and a three-point play to put No. 19 Baylor ahead to stay in a 77-57 victory over TCU on Wednesday night.
The Bears (17-5, 5-4 Big 12), who had five players scoring in double figures, led throughout after scoring the game’s first eight points.
TCU (14-8, 1-8) was within 45-39 with just over 15 minutes left before Royce O’Nealeconverted a three-point play and hit a 3-pointer from the left wing after a pass from Chery. The Bears pushed in front 58-39 when Rico Gathers made a layup with 12:45 left.
Gathers finished with 14 points and 17 rebounds. Chery also had six assists and five rebounds.
O’Neale scored 12 points, Taurean Prince 11 and Lester Medford 10.
Amric Fields had 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting to lead TCU. Trey Zeigler and Kenrich Williamshad 11 points each.
After the pass to O’Neale for the 3 in Baylor’s big second-half run, Chery had another assist when he crossed midcourt and passed ahead to Al Freeman. The freshman point guard took a stutter-step without traveling or putting the ball on the floor to get around defender Kyan Anderson for a layup. Freeman had a 3-pointer for the next Baylor points.
The Bears have won 17 of their last 18 home games, the lone loss in that span by one point to No. 12 Kansas a month ago.
