FINAL: KU 71 - Temple 59

Well, Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins were too much for an impressive second half from Dionte Christmas.

The Owls pulled within two with about 10 minutes left on a Christmas three-pointer, and from there on Kansas took over.

Aldrich and Collins scored a combined 30 points, and the Jayhawks ended the game on a big run.

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3:28 Kansas leads 69-53

At one point, about eight minutes ago, Temple was down 48-46 and Dionte Christmas was heating up. Since then, the Jayhawks have been on a 21-5 run, and Christmas hasn't scored a point.

Collins and Aldrich led the way at the start of the run, but since then the Morris Twins, Tyshawn Taylor and Brady Morningstar have all contributed.

For the most part during this run, Kansas has been fast breaking. The Jayhawks clearly hold the advantage over the Owls when it comes to the transition game. In the end, it's been Kansas' speed that has been too much to handle for Temple.

9:12- Kansas leads 55-46

When in doubt, count on Collins and Aldrich. The two veterans have spurred a recent KU run to put the Jayhawks on top by nine.

Aldrich had a nifty move in the post followed by a turnaround jump shot, and on the next possession, Collins hit a three-pointer in transition. The two have 30 of KU's 55 points.

14:46 - Kansas leads 48-43

OK, stopping this Dionte Christmas guy is apparently a full-game kind of thing. Not just a half.

In these last five minutes, Christmas has nine points, all on three-pointers. He's doing whatever he wants with Morningstar.

In the first half, Morningstar was the Christmas stopper, the Grinch if you will. Second half? Not so much.

At one point, a Christmas three pulled Temple within one at 44-43, but Collins and Aldrich have answered back with a bucket each.

There's also good news about this sudden scoring burst from Christmas. His teammates aren't touching the ball. Several of them played well in the first half but are now out of the offense.

Halftime - Kansas leads Temple 38-30

A late run has given the Jayhawks a little bit of breathing room. The icing? Courtesy of Brady Morningstar. We'll tell ya about that in a second. But first, Morningstar's defensive highlights.

Going into this game, Dionte Christmas was averaging around 20 points a game. He was a shooting machine. Well, he found his match, at least for a half, in Morningstar. Christmas has just three points - on a late three-pointer. Morningstar has been smothering him most of the half. He's hardly touched the ball.

Now for the offense. After a Marcus Morris layup, Morningstar was wide open in the corner with about 30 seconds left in the half. He swished it, giving Kansas its 38-30 lead.

1:31 - Kansas leads Temple 33-30

Even without Christmas, the Owls are hanging on.

LaVoy Allen, Ramone Moore and Luis Guzman have all stepped up and helped Temple keep this one close. Christmas didn't score his first points until a three-pointer just about 30 seconds ago pulled the Owls to within one.

Immediately after, Collins drove the length of the floor for a layup, making it 33-30 and energizing the crowd. He has 11 points so far.

Philly native Marcus Morris is helping out too. About a minute ago, he cleaned up a Collins miss, fell to the ground and still made the putback. He has six.

11:18 - Kansas leads 17-10

So far, it's all Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich. The two combined for 11 of Kansas' first 15 points.

Aldrich had two jump shots and one play inside. Collins made a three-pointer and also drove the lane.

All of the timidness and blandness that Kansas played with last week hasn't been a problem yet. The Jayhawks look as motivated as they have since the Thanksgiving tournament at Sprint Center.

Other good news for KU fans: Dionte Christmas is scoreless so far. Brady Morningstar has held him in check.

PREGAME

Well, by now everyone's heard about this Christmas guy, Dionte Christmas. He helped lead Temple to an upset victory against Tennessee last week. He shoots the ball about 25 times a game. He averages better than 20 points a game. He's good.

And so, the biggest key for Kansas will likely be to stop him. Who can do that? Odds are Markieff Morris might get the opportunity, along with Tyshawn Taylor or Brady Morningstar.

We all know who the Jayhawks would really like to use on him: Mario Little. Little, of course, was supposed to play this game until he broke his hand earlier in the week.

So what's going to happen? Stick to Kansan.com to find out.