Syracuse, N.Y. -- Noted Syracuse fan Adam Weitsman, the owner of Upstate Shredding and Weitsman Recycling, was doing some pre-game reading when inspiration struck.

Weitsman was reading about Syracuse recruit Isaiah Stewart, who grew up learning to play basketball at the Boys & Girls Club in Rochester. Weitsman’s grandfather was one of the founding members of the Tioga Boys & Girls Club in Owego. The Jim & Juli Boeheim Foundation has supported branches throughout Upstate New York, particularly in Syracuse.

Weitsman was heading to Durham, N.C., along with a small group of Syracuse supporters, one of the true believers who felt the Orange could beat the odds against top-ranked Duke, which went into Monday’s game as a 17-point favorite.

On a whim, Weitsman went to Facebook, declaring that he would donate $150,000 to three area Boys & Girls Clubs if the Orange pulled off the upset, one of the biggest of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s career.

“It was the craziest thing I’ve ever been to,” Weitsman said when reached in Durham on Monday night. “There were like 20 of us in Orange. It was a sea of blue, a legendary arena, like a high school gym. There are so many students there, and they are standing and jumping the whole time. I’ve been to a lot of cool sporting events, but this was the most exciting one that I’ve ever been to.”

3 of my favorite things in this world are SU basketball 🍊, being the under dog and supporting the boys and girls club.... Posted by Adam Weitsman on Monday, January 14, 2019

Weitsman, known for his shredding business, his mansion in Skaneateles and his frequent philanthropy, was part of a contingent of Syracuse fans who sat right behind the SU bench for the Orange’s 95-91 overtime win.

“Two of the best coaches ever,” Weitsman said. “Coach Boeheim is No. 1, of course. Coach K is No. 2."

Duke scored the first 12 points but Syracuse rallied back to trail by just one at halftime. The Orange trailed most of the game, but the odds of Weitsman fulfilling his promise began to look a lot more promising as the game see-sawed back and forth late in the second half.

Weitsman said he looked down at his phone in the final minutes and saw that he had “about 1,000 messages.”

Most were from Syracuse fans reacting to the game and his generous promise. A few were from Duke fans saying, perhaps reluctantly, that the welfare of area kids was more important than basketball loyalties, at least for one night. Weitsman said he anticipates giving $50,000 to each of the branches.

“All these great players, a lot of them develop their skills at the Boys & Girls Club,” Weitsman said. “My grandfather was involved in starting the one in Owego, so it’s something that near to my heart. Hopefully it goes into some basketball programs and other after-school activities. It’s amazing to be able to help them out.”