Rioux, who measures 2.36 meters, made the crowd explode when coach Todd Golden finally gave in after persistent cries: “We want to see Ollie.”
With just over two minutes left, the young giant stepped onto the court – and became college basketball's tallest player ever.
"It felt amazing. The support from everyone, both the team and the fans, was incredible. I'm very grateful," Rioux said after the game.
Even though he didn't have time to touch the ball, his substitution was the game's big asset. Coach Golden says that the pressure from the stands to see Rioux was already felt at halftime.
"People were screaming at me to let him play. I just said, 'Calm down, his time will come,'" Golden said.
Rioux is three centimeters taller than previous NBA stars such as Yao Ming and Tacko Fall.
Guinness World Records named Rioux the world's tallest teenager back in 2021 when he was measured at 2.26 meters at the age of 15.
