Basketball analyst Jeff Goodman reported Thursday that NJIT will join the America East next season.
NJIT is joining the America East starting this season, source told @Stadium. NJIT was previously in the Atlantic Sun.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 11, 2020
NJIT was a full member of the Atlantic Sun but an affiliate member of the Northeast Conference for men’s lacrosse. The Highlanders had played just one season in the NEC, going 1-6 in 2020 before COVID-19 abruptly brought the season to a close.
NJIT did not have the opportunity to play a conference game. Its next game prior to the cancellation was scheduled for March 14 against Long Island U. in an NEC opener for both schools. LIU merged its two campuses to become a full Division I university prior to this academic year.
Geographically, the America East would seem to be a better fit for NJIT, though the institution will be the first school from New Jersey in the conference. This move gives the America East eight men’s lacrosse teams — Albany, Binghamton, Hartford, Stony Brook, UMass Lowell, UMBC and Vermont representing the current members.
The NEC could also lose Robert Morris, though it remains to be seen how that would impact lacrosse. CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reports that Robert Morris will leave the NEC for the Horizon League, with an official announcement coming soon.
Sources: Members of the NEC are expecting Robert Morris to officially join the Horizon League for the 20-21 season. Official announcement expected soon.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 11, 2020
The Horizon League sponsors a bevy of sports, though it does not sponsor football or men’s or women’s lacrosse. Robert Morris could remain an affiliate member of the NEC as it transitions to the Horizon League across its other sports, though the official announcement will likely reveal more on that topic.
Robert Morris went 4-2 this season after an NCAA tournament berth in 2019. The Colonials lost to eventual NCAA champion Virginia in the first round after defeating Hobart to win the conference championship.