The Stephen C. O’Connell Center was buzzing Wednesday night. Why? The Florida Gators fans got another glimpse of Olivier Rioux, the towering 7‑foot‑9 freshman big man who has become the center of attention since his debut against the North Florida Ospreys in November. From the second he stepped on the floor, the cheers were deafening, and it took the Gators’ giant only two minutes against Saint Francis Red Flash to etch his name in college basketball history.

With just 43 seconds left in the second half, Rioux threw down a two-handed dunk and became the tallest person to score a basket in the NCAA. It took a perfect bounce pass from CJ Ingram to get the job done. The crowd rose to its feet to celebrate this once-in-a-generation moment.

“We were just going crazy like y’all saw it,” senior guard Xaivian Lee said in the post-game conference.

The 19-year-old player from Terrebonne, Quebec, had previously made headlines by becoming the tallest player to appear in a DI contest. He had surpassed UNC Asheville’s Kenny George (2006-2008) and Hardin-Simmons/UCLA’s Mike Lanier (1988-1993). Both players were listed at 7-foot-7, according to ESPN.

Did you know: Olivier Rioux also holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest teenager in the world.

Rioux previously scored the first-ever point of his career by hitting a free throw in the 80-45 victory over the Merrimack Warriors. His latest dunk, which was his first career basket and the team’s final point of the game, sent shockwaves through the crowd as the Gators secured a 102-61 victory.

He saw most of the game from the bench. He was checked into the contest with 1:46 remaining, something fans have noticed for a while. The Gators have played 11 games this season, out of which the big man has been on the court in only three of them, averaging 2.3 minutes.

Even in the season opener against the Arizona Wildcats, Rioux did not see the floor. And while the 7-foot-9 player clearly holds a size advantage unlike anyone else, head coach Todd Golden has stressed that height alone isn’t enough.

Golden has pointed to Rioux’s lack of experience, noting that relying solely on his size could backfire and place him under unnecessary pressure. Still, the Florida coach believes “the time will come” when Rioux is ready to contribute in a more prominent role for the team.

What’s next for Olivier Rioux and the Gators?

While Olivier Rioux’s historic basket grabbed the spotlight, the Gators’ season is still very much a work in progress. Sitting comfortably inside the national top 25, they’ve shown flashes of being one of the more balanced teams in the country, pairing an efficient offense with a defense that has largely held its ground.

Through 11 games, Florida is averaging 83.8 points a contest while allowing just 71.2.

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But a closer look at those results reveals a concerning pattern.

All four of the Gators’ losses have come against quality competition. Three were handed down by elite, high-ranked opponents, No. 13 Arizona, No. 4 Duke, and No. 5 UConn, while the fourth came in an upset loss to TCU. These games have served as early measuring sticks, showing that while the Gators can dominate lesser opponents, consistency against top-tier programs remains the next hurdle.

And the upcoming stretch will be a very clear indicator of whether they have worked on their shortcomings or not. After the next three games against Colgate, Dartmouth, and Missouri, the Gators will play against:

• The No. 25-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on January 6.
• The No. 20-ranked Tennessee Volunteers on January 10.
• The No. 13-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores on January 17.

For a roster that blends experienced contributors with developmental players like Olivier Rioux, Xaivian Lee, and Alex Condon, the focus now shifts from moments to momentum and whether the Gators can translate their potential into sustained success as the stakes rise.