Just like Tuesday, the foul trouble once again struck early for Pioneer High School boys basketball team.

But this time, the Pioneers excelled.

Pioneer forward Jibreel Hussein, who scored 34 points Tuesday in Pioneer’s win over Father Gabriel Richard, picked up his second foul with 1:37 left in the first quarter Friday against Lincoln, and sat for the rest of the half.

But with Hussein on the bench, Pioneer lengthened its lead from nine points to 16 at halftime, en route to a 54-40 win Friday night at home.

More coverage: Boxscore | Boys basketball Friday night roundup

“Whereas Tuesday night there were times Jibreel really had to carry us, I thought tonight it was a real team victory,” Pioneer coach Rex Stanczak said. “Everybody that went in there contributed.”

Pioneer played 14 players, and 10 of them recorded points. Tevis Robinson led the team with 11, and Aedan York finished with 10, connecting on a pair of 3’s. Ethan Spencer and Hussein each had nine.

Six of Robinson’s points came when Pioneer pulled away in the second.

“I think we were just getting back together on defense, everybody was playing together as a team, nobody was playing selfish,” Robinson said. “It was great team chemistry.”

Playing a slower, more half court-oriented style, Pioneer took better care of the ball, turning the ball over just 10 times, compared to 31 Tuesday.

“We spent a lot of time in the last couple of days working on our offense versus pressure,” Stanczak said. “I thought we responded well.”

Lincoln started the second half on a 7-2 run to get as close as 11, before Pioneer pulled away.

The Railsplitters, starting four sophomores while it adjusts to a new offense under new coach Rich Marion, struggled to generate points out of their halfcourt set.

“I have to get it through to them that within what we’re doing offensively they can go play,” Marion said. “They are trying too hard I think to please me and do the right thing in our offense instead of just being the players they are.”

Guard Sherrod Motley-Dismuke led the Railsplitters with 10 points, followed by Lazon Hicks with eight.

Both teams will play again Saturday in the Romulus Holiday Tournament. Lincoln takes on Detroit Catholic Central at 1 p.m., and Pioneer takes on Detroit Southeastern at 7:40 p.m.

Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.