As a freshman, Rivers played in Duke's exhibition games in China and Dubai during an international tour in August 2011.
In the first game against the China men's national basketball team, Rivers scored 18 points on 8–19 shooting and led Duke to a 77–64 victory.
In the second game (also against the Chinese national team), Rivers scored 12 points in a 78–66 victory, making several dunks during the first half.
In the final game played in Beijing, Rivers chipped in 11 points as Duke topped the Chinese, 93–78.
In his team's 86–66 victory over the Dubai national team, he scored 16 points, including 10 in the second quarter, on an array of impressive drives.

On February 8, 2012, his three-point basket as time expired allowed Duke to overcome an 82–72 deficit with two minutes to play in an 85–84 victory over the University of North Carolina.
The victory ended North Carolina's 31 game winning streak at the Dean Smith Center.

On March 16, 2012, Rivers' college career ended in the "Round of 64" of the NCAA tournament, when Duke lost to Lehigh University.
Rivers shot 5-14 from the field, while playing 34 minutes.
Lehigh led for most of the game, earning their first NCAA Tournament victory.

On March 26, 2012, Rivers declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final three years of college eligibility.
As a freshman, Rivers played in Duke's exhibition games in China and Dubai during an international tour in August 2011. In the first game against the China men's national basketball team, Rivers scored 18 points on 8–19 shooting and led Duke to a 77–64 victory. In the second game (also against the Chinese national team), Rivers scored 12 points in a 78–66 victory, making several dunks during the first half. In the final game played in Beijing, Rivers chipped in 11 points as Duke topped the Chinese, 93–78. In his team's 86–66 victory over the Dubai national team, he scored 16 points, including 10 in the second quarter, on an array of impressive drives.
On February 8, 2012, his three-point basket as time expired allowed Duke to overcome an 82–72 deficit with two minutes to play in an 85–84 victory over the University of North Carolina. The victory ended North Carolina's 31 game winning streak at the Dean Smith Center.
On March 16, 2012, Rivers' college career ended in the "Round of 64" of the NCAA tournament, when Duke lost to Lehigh University. Rivers shot 5-14 from the field, while playing 34 minutes. Lehigh led for most of the game, earning their first NCAA Tournament victory.
On March 26, 2012, Rivers declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final three years of college eligibility.
Austin Rivers