Olivier Rioux Posts Double-Double in UC Irvine Debut

Rioux made his first appearance for UC Irvine on November 3, starting in the Anteaters’ 92-66 victory over Chapman. The 7-foot-9 center finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and one blocked shot in 18 minutes, shooting 6 for 9 from the floor. His point total was second-highest on the team.

He scored his first basket less than two minutes into the game, converting from close range after receiving the ball in the post. Later, he threw down a one-handed dunk without leaving the floor. In another play, he dunked from behind the basket near the baseline.

With his spot in the starting lineup, Rioux became the tallest person ever to open a Division I contest. He transferred to UC Irvine this offseason after two seasons at Florida, where he appeared in 11 games during the 2025-26 season. His 18 minutes against Chapman exceeded the 17 minutes he played across his two years with the Gators.

Rioux was part of Florida’s 2025 national championship run, but his playing time there was limited. At UC Irvine, he joins coach Russell Turner, who previously developed 7-foot-6 center Mamadou Ndiaye. Rioux is set to have another opportunity to make an impression when the Anteaters host San Jose State on November 7.