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Florida center Olivier Rioux made history during the team’s 102-61 victory over Saint Francis on Wednesday night when the world’s tallest teenager recorded his first collegiate field goal in the final minutes of the game.
Already a fan favorite, the Canadian phenom entered the fray in the final two minutes of the contest, drawing loud cheers from the crowd, who earlier in the night began chanting “We want Ollie!”
Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) dunks the ball against Saint Francis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., on Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Morgan Hurd)
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With 43 seconds left, Rioux caught a pass from teammate CJ Ingram and dunked — his feet barely leaving the ground in the process.
At 7-foot-9, he became the tallest player in college basketball history to make a field goal.
“Pretty special, man,” Gators coach Todd Golden said after the contest. “The transition, his vertical. Woo. He was up there, man.”
North Florida guard Dante Oliver, left, and North Florida forward Nestor Dyachok, right, guard Florida center Olivier Rioux, center, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., on Nov. 6, 2025. (Chris Watkins/AP Photo)
WORLD’S TALLEST TEENAGER OLIVIER RIOUX MAKES COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL HISTORY FOR FLORIDA GATORS
“We were just going crazy,” added Florida guard Xaivian Lee, who led the team with 18 points.
Rioux, 19, made history last month when he became the tallest college basketball player of all time in his debut for the Gators. With his hard-to-miss height on the court, Rioux didn’t touch the ball in that game, but he scored three plays later and made a free throw.
Olivier Rioux (32) of the Florida Gators watches from the bench during the first half of a Hall of Fame Series game against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nov. 3, 2025. The Wildcats defeated the Gators 93-87. (David Becker/Getty Images)
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“It felt great,” Rioux said after his debut. “The support from everyone was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everyone supported me. I’m very grateful.”
