Tigers maintain momentum in ACC action with win at Syracuse

Joseph Girard led all scorers with 18 in his return to the Dome. (Photo: Mark Konezny / USATODAY)For the first time this season, Clemson has won back-to-back ACC games, and Brad Brownell’s Tigers did so in two of the toughest environments in the league.

After Tuesday’s 80-76 upset at No. 3 UNC on Tuesday, Clemson (16-7, 6-6 ACC) extended its first winning run in conference play with a 77-68 victory at Syracuse (15-9, 6-7) on Saturday.

Clemson put together another strong first half, while Syracuse had its worst of the year.

In his homecoming after 125 games in a Syracuse Orange uniform, Joseph Girard III scored his first points on a 3-pointer to start an 11-0 run for Clemson to a double-digit…