Fans saw everything except a traditional basketball game when the Harlem Globetrotters invaded Breslin Center Saturday.

The Globetrotters defeated the New York Nationals 74-44 in a circus-like basketball contest.

Not only were there fascinating dunks, behind-the-back shots and passes that had NBA written all over them, there was singing, throwing water on the spectators and dancing.

At one point, while there was a “timeout,” children flooded the floor and helped the players do the YMCA.

St. Johns resident Mary Beth Rosenbaum brought her husband and her two sons to the game.

“I enjoyed it,” Rosenbaum said. “It was so kid-oriented with all the children they brought out to the floor.

“I thought it was a good family orientated event.”

Throughout the game, there was a miked Globetrotter, giving the crowd something else to giggle at.

Paul Gaffney lived up to his nickname, “Showtime,” by putting on a stand-up routine in the first half and fourth quarter while “Sweet” Lou Dunbar, a 23-year Globetrotter veteran, did a “Nutty Professor” comedic act in the third quarter.

Both players got the crowd involved, having them cheer when a Nationals player was about to shoot a free throw or help clarify how many shots from the charity stripe the opponent had to shoot.

During one of the free-throw discussions, Gaffney questioned the number of shots a Nationals player was attempting.

The announcer said two, but Gaffney went to the official and asked him and the official responded with two. Gaffney said two plus two is four, therefore, they get four shots.

The announcer responded by saying “Tonight, two plus two equals two.”

A confused Gaffney responded by saying, “Where did you go to school? University of Michigan?” generating the loudest applause of the evening.

The players realize it is more of a show than a basketball game, but they love entertaining the crowd.

“We gave them laughter,” Globetrotter Curly “Boo” Johnson said.

“Considering what’s going on the last couple of months, I think that put a damper on people’s spirits and now I think they are flocking to us for the uplifting we provide.”

Chris Morris, a former NBA star with the Utah Jazz, said this show could be the future of some of the youngsters in the stands.

“It’s fun and great, and you never know, one of these kids that came to see this show might be one day a member,” Morris said.

Johnson said he loved the game, but was more thrilled with the 30-minute autograph session that followed.

“In that autograph session, you got people tugging at you, throwing balls at your head, but it doesn’t bother me at all,” Johnson said. “You know how they feel about us for what we’ve done out there on the court.

“Nobody was leaving, everyone wanted to be close to us, which means we made an impact on them in the most positive way.”