Lancaster Bible’s basketball teams will play in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) in the upcoming season. The Chargers, who became a full member of NCAA Division III in 2010-2011, competed last year as an Independent.

Lancaster Bible’s addition is the latest of many changes in the NEAC’s membership. Of the 13 current conference members, only five –- Cazenovia, Keuka, Penn State-Berks and Penn State-Harrisburg and St. Elizabeth (women only) –- were members before the 2008-2009 season.  In the past four seasons four schools have left the NEAC and the University of Dallas joined and left during that time.

The move also reduces the number of teams eligible for the one Pool B bid into the NCAA tournament. That bid is reserved for independents and members of conferences without an automatic qualifying bid. 

The 2011 NCAA men’s basketball championship handbook listed 13 schools eligible for the Pool B bid last year.  Lancaster Bible is the third team from that group that will join a conference with an automatic bid and leave Pool B in the upcoming season.  Chapman will join the SCIAC, though it will not be eligible for the automatic bid this season, and the University of Dallas will join the SCAC.  St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) becomes eligible for a Pool B bid this year.