Sun Belt Extends Basketball Agreement with New Orleans

The Sun Belt Conference announced Monday they have extended their agreement with the New Orleans Lakefront Arena to host the Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships.

The agreement, which was set to expire after the 2016 tournament, will be extended for one year.

The league tournament, which has been limited to eight teams for the last three years, will now include all twelve teams, beginning in 2016-17.  Coastal Carolina will join the league as the 12th basketball member next season.

The extension and the decision to include all teams was voted on by the Presidents and Chancellors of the member universities.

The dates and formats for the 2017 tournament are still to be determined.

The 2016 tournament will mark the third consecutive year the Lakefront Arena has played host to the championships, which had been in Hot Springs, AR prior to moving to the Crescent City.