LSC moves basketball tournament

RICHARDSON, Texas — The Lone Star Conference basketball tournaments are heading west, but only barely from Eastern New Mexico University’s vantage point.

The conference has announced the men’s and women’s tournaments will head to Frisco, Texas, on a two-year contract with an option for 2020. They have been in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex since 2012, when the tournament came to Allen.

Dr Pepper Arena hosted a Division II men’s Elite Eight in 2016 and is the home arena for the Texas Legends, a Gatorade League affiliate for the Dallas Mavericks.

“Our goal is always to provide our student-athletes and fans with a first-class experience and this new partnership will certainly do that,” LSC Commissioner Jay Poerner said in a release. “We're grateful for the opportunity to align with such a great venue and community.”

Frisco will be the third different city to host the tournament since the LSC adopted a neutral-site format in 2008. The first four tournaments were held in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

The tournaments will be held March 1-4, with 14 games involving the top eight men’s and women’s teams in LSC play. Each tournament winner receives an automatic bid into the Division II national tournament.

Last season, the ENMU women’s team reached the LSC tournament as the top seed, but fell to No. 8 Texas A&M-Kingsville in the opening round. The men’s team fell one win short of making the field in Allen.