LAWRENCE — Kansas’ offense had gone stale, and a 19-point second-half lead had been trimmed to seven.

So midway through the second half, when KU needed a bucket against Lafayette, of course it turned to junior post player Perry … wait, Hunter Mickelson?

Sure enough, the 6-foot-10 Mickelson came through, putting in a shot with a foul then cleaning up an offensive rebound on the next possession for two more.

The quick offensive burst put the 10th-ranked Jayhawks back on track, starting a 26-5 run as they pulled away for a 96-69 victory over the Leopards on Saturday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.

"Sometimes you get in a routine, and you stick with it unless somebody hits you over the head. And he’s kind of hit us over the head the last week," KU coach Bill Self said. "He’s been really good in practice, and his attitude’s great."

Mickelson, who had played a combined one minute in KU’s previous five games, parlayed that strong week of practice into extended playing time. He finished with eight points on 4-for-7 shooting with seven rebounds in 17 minutes.

"The lights get a little brighter when you’re out there," Mickelson said with a smile. "I just had a good time."

He also had a little bit of advance warning that it might be his day.

In the locker room before the game, Self singled Mickelson out in front of the group to be ready to come in and give energy.

"That was great," Mickelson said. "I had a pretty good week, as everybody did. I knew I might have a little chance to come in."

Suddenly, KU’s four-person big-man rotation doesn’t seem quite as settled. Perry Ellis and Cliff Alexander seem certain for big minutes moving forward, but Mickelson’s emergence means Jamari Traylor and Landen Lucas could be battling to keep their reserve roles.

"He’s a quick-twitch guy, maybe not so much explosive, but he doesn’t have to gather to jump and things like that," Self said of Mickelson. "Norm (Roberts, KU assistant) has been telling me every day, ‘He’s getting better. He’s getting better.’ And he has. He’s gotten better.

"Certainly he’s going to play more, or at least get an opportunity to play more."

Like previous KU transfer Jeff Withey, Mickelson has had to remain patient. His 17 minutes Saturday actually were three more than he’d had all season (14).

"I’m an older guy, but it’s coming into a different system, and you’re learning how things are run," the Arkansas transfer said. "They’re different from where I came from. (I'm) just learning and soaking everything up."

Mickelson wasn’t the only Jayhawk to emerge with his best game.

Freshman Kelly Oubre, making his second start, scored a career-high 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting with 10 rebounds in 25 minutes.

Frank Mason added 14 points and nine assists.

KU (9-1) will have a quick turnaround, taking on Temple at 6 p.m. Monday.

It’ll go there with another weapon in the frontcourt after Mickelson’s big game Saturday.

"He just needed an opportunity," Self said, "and he got out there and did well."