In a moment celebrated by fans and teammates alike, Canadian centre Olivier Rioux, officially recognized as the world's tallest teenager, recorded his first points in NCAA basketball. The monumental dunk came during the No. 23 ranked Florida Gators' 102-61 victory over the Saint Francis Red Flash on Wednesday night in Gainesville.
A Historic Moment for a Canadian Phenom
The 7-foot-9 athlete from Terrebonne, Quebec, entered the game to roaring chants from the student section with just minutes remaining on the clock. Seizing his opportunity, Rioux—who stood a staggering 15 inches taller than any opponent on the court—finished with an authoritative dunk, marking his inaugural collegiate field goal. The moment was a highlight in a game where the Gators (7-4) never trailed, dominating from the opening tip.
Gators Dominate in Return Home
Florida's win served as a welcome respite from one of the nation's most challenging nonconference schedules, which included losses to top-five powerhouses Arizona, Duke, and UConn. The team was firing on all cylinders, making 15 of its first 20 shot attempts to build an insurmountable 20-point lead early on.
Xaivian Lee led the scoring charge with 18 points, while Alex Condon contributed 14. The comfortable margin allowed head coach Todd Golden to utilize his bench extensively, paving the way for Rioux's memorable debut basket. Rueben Chinyelu also posted a strong double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Overmatched Opponents and a Bright Future
The Saint Francis Red Flash, who fell to 2-10 on the season, entered the contest ranked 361st out of 365 Division I teams by KenPom metrics, making them the lowest-rated opponent to ever visit Florida's O'Connell Center in the analytics era dating back to 1996-97. Senior Skylar Wicks led the Red Flash with 22 points in the losing effort.
For Olivier Rioux and the Gators, the game represents a positive step forward. As the Canadian giant continues to develop his game at the highest level of U.S. college basketball, his first points signal the beginning of what many hope will be a remarkable and unique career.
