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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Brannen Greene's tardiness turned into an opportunity for Kelly Oubre Jr., and the freshman made the most of a surprise start for No. 10 Kansas.
Oubre had 23 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Jayhawks to a 96-69 victory over Lafayette on Saturday.
"Today was a confidence booster, something to get me started," Oubre said. "I'm just going to keep doing the things I've been doing, be patient and enjoy the process."
Greene was expected to start, but coach Bill Self yanked the sophomore forward from the lineup because he was late to a weightlifting session.
"He wasn't going to start today," Self said of Oubre. "That was a gift from Brannen Greene."
Oubre was 9 for 15 from the field in his second start of the season. He also was in the starting lineup on Nov. 18 against No. 1 Kentucky and had six points in just 13 minutes in the Jayhawks' 72-40 loss.
Wayne Selden Jr. finished with 12 points, all in the second half for Kansas (9-1). Freshman Svi Mykhailiuk and junior Jamari Traylor each had 11 points, and freshman Cliff Alexander had 10.
"Everybody had a great week leading up to it," junior Hunter Mickelson said. "We're on break, everybody's finishing up finals. I think putting all that together with everyone else having a great week, just kinda fitting in with getting everything right. We just had one of those weeks."
Seth Hinrichs led Lafayette (7-3) with 15 points and seven rebounds.
"They're the 10th-(ranked) team in the country," Hinrichs said. "We competed for 30 minutes and I think we can be proud of that. We had a few turnovers and they went on a run."
Kansas played without freshman Devonte' Graham because of a toe injury, and junior Perry Ellis was limited to seven minutes in the first half.
"I don't think Ellis felt well today," Self said. "Something was up."
Kansas used a 19-4 run to open a 26-11 lead with 8:43 remaining. Mykhailiuk made consecutive 3-pointer to increase the Jayhawks' advantage to 45-28 at the break.
The Leopards rallied in the second half, closing to 59-52 on Monty Boykins' 3-pointer. But Kansas pulled away again.
"We worked so hard to get back in the game and all of a sudden they would go right back up and quickly," coach Fran O'Hanlon said. "I do think there was a point where they were battling against a good team. It was going to be hard to get back in that game."
Kansas responded with a 15-4 run. Mason had two jumpers in the surge.
"When they made their run and we weren't playing very well, the only reason why the game wasn't closer because of Frank," Self said.
TIP-INS
Kansas: The Jayhawks shot 50 percent (38 for 76) from the field and outrebounded the Leopards 44-26.
Lafayette: The Leopards are 0-3 against Big 12 opponents since O'Hanlon took over in 1995.
UP NEXT
Kansas visits Temple on Monday.
Lafayette hosts the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Dec. 28.
STAT LINES
Six different Jayhawks scored in double figures.
QUOTABLE
"I learned a lesson. I'm not gonna tell you guys who I'm starting." — Bill Self
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