​GREENSBORO — For the first time in nearly 50 years, UNC basketball and N.C. State will play at the Greensboro Coliseum in the regular season. The Tar Heels and Wolfpack will meet in a nonconference matchup at First Horizon Coliseum on Dec. 15 in the “Tobacco Road Classic.” With UNC’s Michael Malone and N.C. State’s Justin Gainey as the coaches, it’ll be the first matchup between first-year coaches in the series since 1947. “Unlike Justin, who played at N.C. State, this is all brand new to me. Coming from 25 years in the NBA, you did not have these types of rivalries very often,” Malone said during a press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 19, inside the coliseum. Malone went on to mention the history of the rivalry, noting that UNC and N.C. State weren’t scheduled to play twice last year for the first time since 1919. “A huge shoutout and a huge thank you to all the people who made this possible,” Malone said. “Because I think the fans have spoken, the administrators have spoken, the legislators have spoken that this game matters. This game means something to everybody in this room. I’m just really excited to be a part of it.”The Tar Heels have a 10-4 record against the Wolfpack in Greensboro, but the teams haven’t played there since the 1998 ACC Tournament. It’ll be the first regular-season meeting between the programs in Greensboro since the Big Four Tournament in 1979.“It’s great to be home. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in here and it’s been a lot of great memories that have taken place in here for me, personally, and for N.C. State,” said Gainey, a High Point native who played at Greensboro Day School before suiting up for the Wolfpack.“I’m so excited that we were able to put this game together. … From my side of things and from N.C. State, coming back to Greensboro and coming back home, for me,  is gonna be a special moment. I’m excited to see all of our fans and really show up and have a big impact and presence as December comes.”The ACC’s shift to an 18-game league schedule shifted some longtime rivalries in the conference, which was formed in 1953. With the changes, UNC’s primary partner is Duke and N.C. State’s is Wake Forest. The other home-and-home series rotates each year.Malone mentioned legendary coach Dean Smith’s ACC tournament titles in Greensboro and Phil Ford’s MVP performance against N.C. State in the championship game in the 1975 ACC Tournament.“Those are some of the things that I’ve learned in a short period of time about what this game means,” Malone said. “I’m just really excited to be a part of that on Dec. 15. I have a lot of respect for Justin, I think he’s a hell of a coach. He’s a defensive-minded guard, a guy who can always play for me. I look forward to getting to know him and competing against him for many, many years.” Gainey went on to mention the history and tradition of college basketball in Greensboro, something the Ta