Sophomore D.J. McDonald came off the bench Tuesday night to score a team-high 15 points and led the visiting UC Riverside men’s basketball team to a season-opening 66-47 upset of Nebraska at Lincoln, Neb.

UCR, picked seventh in the Big West in a preseason poll, used a 16-2 run to go ahead 32-28 at the half, and then broke things open in the second 20 minutes due to a 34-19 advantage over the Cornhuskers, playing their first game for new coach Fred Hoiberg.

The Highlanders opened the second half by making 7 of 9 three-pointers, led by 18 points with less than 12 minutes to play, then milked the clock and still extended their lead. On back-to-back occasions in the second half UCR took the shot clock under 2 seconds and wound up with layups.

UCR held Nebraska to 29.1 percent shooting (16 for 55), including 6 of 26 (23.1 percent) from beyond the three-point line. That 6 for 26 also represented Nebraska’s second half field goal percentage. Additionally, UCR outrebounded Nebraska 49-29, including 13 offensive rebounds.

“When we reassessed our team over the summer, we knew we had to make huge strides on defense and in rebounding the ball, and I thought tonight those two areas were key in getting the win here in Nebraska,” head coach David Patrick was quoted on UCR’s athletic website. “Our guys have bought into our new defensive system, they followed the scouting report to a ‘T’, and we were more physical than them for most of the night.”

Sophomore guard Dragan Elkaz added 14 points and junior guard George Willborn II, a transfer from Texas-San Antonio, added 13 points and 18 rebounds in his UCR debut.

Senior guard Dikymbe Martin, UCR’s only double-figure scorer last season at 14.8 points a game, did not play.

The Highlanders (10-23 last season) shot 41 percent from the floor, including 48 percent (12-for-25) from the 3-point line.

This was the second time in three seasons UCR shocked a Power Five conference team in its season opener. The Highlanders won at Cal to begin the 2017-18 season, but that team finished 9-22 and changed coaches just before conference play.

UC Riverside’s home opener is 2 p.m. Saturday versus Idaho.

Staff columnist Jim Alexander contributed to this story.