{"id":88513,"date":"2025-12-18T22:14:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T22:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/88513\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T22:14:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T22:14:08","slug":"olivier-rioux-makes-history-in-florida-victory-with-first-field-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/88513\/","title":{"rendered":"Olivier Rioux makes history in Florida victory with first field goal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Florida center<\/a> Olivier Rioux made history during the team\u2019s 102-61 victory over Saint Francis on Wednesday night when the world\u2019s tallest teen recorded his first collegiate field goal in the final minutes of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Canadian<\/a> phenom, already a fan favorite, entered the game in the final two minutes of the contest, drawing loud cheers from the crowd, who earlier in the night began chanting “We want Ollie!”<\/p>\n

\"Olivier <\/p>\n

Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) dunks the ball against Saint Francis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Florida, on Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo\/Morgan Hurd)<\/p>\n

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With 43 seconds left, Rioux caught a bounce pass from teammate CJ Ingram and dunked \u2013 his feet barely leaving the ground in the process.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At 7-foot-9, he became the tallest player in college basketball<\/a> history to make a field goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Pretty special, man,” Gators coach Todd Golden said after the contest. “The transition, his vertical. Woo. He was up there, man.”<\/p>\n

\"Olivier <\/p>\n

North Florida guard Dante Oliver, left, and North Florida forward Nestor Dyachok, right, guard against Florida center Olivier Rioux, center, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Florida, on Nov. 6, 2025. (Chris Watkins\/AP Photo)<\/p>\n

WORLD’S TALLEST TEENAGER OLIVIER RIOUX MAKES COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL HISTORY FOR FLORIDA GATORS<\/a><\/p>\n

“We were just going crazy,” Florida guard Xaivian Lee, who led the team with 18 points, added.<\/p>\n

Rioux, 19, made history last month when he became the tallest college basketball player ever in his debut for the Gators. With his hard-to-miss height on the court, Rioux didn\u2019t touch the ball in that game but he scored three games later, making a free throw.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Olivier <\/p>\n

Olivier Rioux (32) of the Florida Gators looks on 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, on Nov. 3, 2025. The Wildcats defeated the Gators 93-87. (David Becker\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

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“It felt great,” Rioux said after his debut. “The support from everybody was amazing, even on the bench and even the fans. I think everybody supported me. I\u2019m very grateful.”<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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