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Clemson guard Joseph Girard III celebrates the team’s win over Syracuse on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome. Girard, who started for Syracuse for four years, scored a game-high 18 points, including the 2,000th of his college career.

Adrian Kraus, Associated Press
SYRACUSE — From adults taking quick selfies with him, to young kids yelling to him during warmups, fans of Joseph Girard III converged on Syracuse one final time Saturday.

Young and old, perhaps hundreds of JG3 fans made the trip from the Glens Falls area to cheer on their favorite son — even if he was now wearing a different shade of orange with the Clemson men’s basketball team.

And while many wore Syracuse gear, they’ll forgive Girard for leading the Tigers to a 77-68 victory over the Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. It was Clemson’s only trip to Syracuse this season, and could be the closest to his hometown that Girard will play the rest of the way.

That prospect brought out the fans — 23,050 to be exact. Youngsters too young to remember when JG3 was leading Glens Falls to state basketball — and football championships in the same Dome — were clamoring for a wave from their hero.

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August Bombard, 7, was looking as much for his young friends from Glens Falls as he was watching Girard’s pregame shootaround from his perch on his father’s shoulder. August also got to see himself on the overhead video board twice during the game.

“This is great to have (Girard) get back up to the Northeast and be able to come out and watch him play, watch the evolution of his game,” said Brian Bombard, August’s dad. Bombard was Girard’s guidance counselor in high school.

“When this matchup came out on the schedule we got our tickets early,” Bombard said, adding that they had attended many Syracuse games during the four years Girard played for the Orange.

Girard family
Joseph Girard’s family — from left, dad Joe Jr., grandmother Nancy, and mom Arleen — pose for a photo outside of the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse after Saturday’s game.

Pete Tobey, The Post-Star
Girard used his fifth year of eligibility to transfer to Clemson — an ACC rival located in South Carolina — this season, which meant a number of JG3 fans wearing Tigers gear to the game, including his father, Joe Jr., who wore a purple Clemson sweatshirt.

Joe Girard Jr. said Clemson had gotten them 24 tickets for family and friends to use for the game.

His most important fans were there, of course — parents Joe and Arleen, and his grandmother, Nancy Girard, made the trip.

“I’m thrilled for him, he’s such a good kid, and he’s worked so hard,” said Nancy Girard, who had attended several games at Syracuse during her grandson’s career. “I haven’t been to Clemson, but this was my first time seeing him in person (this season).”

“Obviously it’s harder for her to get to Clemson,” Joseph Girard III said during the postgame press conference. “I know she watches all the games, but to have her here in person was awesome.”

Girard and his family both remarked that it felt “weird” to sit on the visitors’ side of the floor.

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“I’m glad for the outcome, glad he did well and for all the support everybody gives him,” said Arleen Girard, who wore a JG3 sweatshirt. “It’s great to come back in this atmosphere, but once it was game time, it was just a regular game to him. I think he handled himself very well.”

Both women were upset with the booing Girard got from the Orange student section.

“I didn’t like the booing, but it comes with the territory,” Arleen Girard said. “I don’t think he heard it, he just played his game, and it showed.”

Paul Bricoccoli Jr. of Glens Falls attended the game with his young daughter, and said before the game that he expected a large turnout of local fans.

“Everybody I talked to is coming out,” Bricoccoli said. “He’s having such a great year, their team is having a great year. If we can get this close to see him, it’s awesome — well worth the trip.”

He also expected Girard to have a big game.

“He certainly seems to rise to an occasion, so I would imagine he’ll put on a pretty good performance here, too,” Bricoccoli said. “He definitely likes to play with a chip on his shoulder.”

JG3 and G-Mac
Clemson guard Joseph Girard III, right, a former Glens Falls standout, poses with Syracuse assistant coach Gerry McNamara before Saturday’s game. McNamara recruited Girard to play at Syracuse and the two remain close, with Girard saying he talks to McNamara every week.

Pete Tobey, The Post-Star
Even fans not from Glens Falls — Syracuse fans like Paul and Pam Bianchi of Liverpool, who attended the game with their son Tommy — were at the game to root their favorite former Orange player.

“It’s really exciting — we’re just ecstatic about it, just to see him again,” said Paul Bianchi, who wore an orange Syracuse T-shirt with Girard’s name and number 11. “I’ve been following Clemson basketball, I never thought I would do that — or wear the other shade of orange, but I am. For today.”

“I was sad to see him leave, but I’m happy for him that he got the opportunity and that he’s setting the records he is,” Pam Bianchi said. “We’re sitting behind the Clemson bench just to see Joe, even though we’re Syracuse fans.”

After scoring 18 points in the game, including the 2,000th of his college career — a surprise to his grandmother, who was unaware of his feat until it happened — Joseph Girard III lingered a little longer on the court, exchanging well wishes with his old teammates and coaches.

Finally, he left the court — named for his former coach, Jim Boeheim — for the final time as a player.

“It was surreal — I never imagined coming back and playing another game on this court, but to have that opportunity, it was awesome, I loved it,” Girard III said. “Going through that handshake line with a lot of my former teammates and coaches was awesome, just being in this arena was great.”

Standing outside the Dome after the game, Joe Girard Jr. summed up the mixed emotions.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “Of course he wants to win and play well, which he did, but at the same time, those are his former teammates and former coaches. As you saw — friendly, all good, just competing.”

Pete Tobey is sports editor and directs the coverage of local sports. Follow Pete Tobey on.