UC Irvine center Olivier Rioux made his debut for the Anteaters this week, posting a double-double in a 92-66 non-conference victory over Division III opponent Chapman, as BroBible reported.
Rioux, a transfer from the University of Florida, played 19 minutes on Tuesday night at UC Irvine. The 7-foot-9 Canadian center scored 13 points and collected 12 rebounds during his time on the court, recording his first double-double in an Anteater uniform.
Rioux entered college basketball as the tallest player in the NCAA, having previously held a record as the world’s tallest teenager when he measured 7-foot-8 at 18 years old. He is also recognized as the tallest player ever to score a basket in NCAA history.
Before moving to the West Coast, Rioux committed to Florida prior to his freshman season and spent two years in Gainesville. He did not see game action as a rookie and subsequently appeared in 11 games during his sophomore year with the Gators before entering the transfer portal and joining UC Irvine.
His inaugural appearance for the Anteaters placed his height on immediate display. The matchup pitted UC Irvine, a program that has recorded four consecutive 20-plus win seasons in the Big West Conference, against a Chapman team based in Orange, California. Chapman had finished its previous season with 18 wins and reached the SCIAC Championship Game, but the Panthers entered Tuesday’s game facing a significant physical disparity.
That difference was evident at the opening tip, where the 7-foot-9 Rioux lined up against Chapman forward Scott Schulz, who stands 6-foot-6. Throughout the contest, no Chapman player who entered the game was taller than 6-foot-7, leaving Rioux at least one foot taller than every opponent on the court.
Playing less than half the game, Rioux used his height to control the interior. He reached over smaller defenders for rebounds without needing to establish traditional position, and he converted offensive opportunities against multiple defenders in the paint. During one sequence in the non-conference game, Rioux finished a dunk from behind the backboard.
With the opening victory secured, UC Irvine’s schedule shifts toward tougher non-conference competition and the upcoming Big West schedule. Over the next four games, the Anteaters are scheduled to face San Jose State, Stanford, and San Diego before entering regular conference play.
