Columbia, SC (SportsNetwork.com) - Kenny Chery scored 20 points and Johnathan Motley added 17, leading Baylor to a 69-65 win over South Carolina on Tuesday.

Lester Medford chipped in 12 points for the Bears (2-0), who rolled to an easy win over McNeese State in their opener last Friday.

Tyrone Johnson led South Carolina with 21 points and Sindarius Thornwell contributed 16. The Gamecocks (1-1) beat North Florida in their opener.

These teams met last year in Waco, also part of ESPN's college basketball marathon, and Baylor also came away with a win in a 66-64 decision.

Tuesday's matchup was also close, as neither team led by more than five until the closing minutes.

Baylor scored the first five points of the game, but South Carolina quickly answered and it remained tight throughout the opening 20 minutes as the Bears took a 30-27 advantage to the break.

A 3-pointer by Thornwell gave South Carolina a 36-35 lead three minutes into the second half, but Chery followed with a three to start a 7-0 Baylor run. The Bears never trailed again.

Chery hit another shot from beyond the arc a short time later and another trey by Taurean Prince gave Baylor a 50-42 advantage with 12:19 remaining. The Gamecocks pulled within 57-54 on a Johnson bucket with just under seven minutes left, but again Chery answered with a big shot from outside the arc.

After Johnson missed a 3-point try for South Carolina, Chery made two free throws and came up with a steal that led to a Motley jumper for a 64-54 margin with just under five minutes to play.

The Gamecocks had one more run left and drew within 64-61 on a tip in by Marcus Stroman. Chery missed at the other end, but Johnson's attempt at a tying triple was off the mark.

Missed free throws by the Bears kept South Carolina alive and a layup by Johnson made it a 67-65 game with three seconds left, but Chery sank two from the stripe to ice it.