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COLUMBIA (WACH)-  The Carolina Coliseum will get one more hurrah when the Lady Gamecocks host LSU Thursday night.  This will be the first basketball action at the Coliseum since 2002 when the Gamecocks made Colonial Life Arena their new home.

The Coliseum was home to Gamecock basketball for 34 years.  Former USC men's basketball head coach Frank McGuire coached the first game played in the Coliseum, and the venue was renamed in his honor nine years later.

"A beautiful facility that was state-of-the-art back when it was built," USC alumni of 1949 and former SID Don Barton said.  "The Coliseum was a symbol of great basketball."

Safran's Antiques in Columbia has preserved memorabilia from the Coliseum for years from the first-ever game program, to ticket stubs from the inaugural to final game played.

"You couldn't buy a ticket back then to games because they were already sold out before the season started," Barton said.

Now as the building that has served as USC Journalism and Hotel, Retail and Tourism management for students over the years, will open its doors again for its original purpose.

South Carolina and LSU will tip off at 7 p.m.  Tickets are still available.