NAIA national men's basketball championship
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1937 |
| No. of teams | 32 |
| Most recent champion(s) |
DI Mid America Christian (OK) DII Indiana Wesleyan University |
| TV partner(s) |
CBS College Sports Network (national) TWC Sports Channel (Kansas City area)Victory Sports Network (national) |
| Official website | http://www.naia.org/ |
DI Mid America Christian (OK)
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship has been held annually since 1937 (with the exception of 1944). The tournament was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities. The NAIA Tournament features thirty-two teams, and the entire tournament is contested at one location in one week, rather than multiple locations over a series of weekends. Since 1992, the NAIA has sponsored a Division II championship. The Division I tournament is played in Kansas City, Missouri, while the Division II tournament is held at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri.
In 1948 the NAIA became the first national organization to open their intercollegiate postseason to black student-athletes, due primarily to the influence of Indiana State coach John Wooden. In 1947, Coach Wooden refused the invitation to the NAIA National Tournament because of the ban on African-American players. The following year, Coach Wooden brought the first African-American student athlete (Clarence Walker) to play at the national tournament. Walker, a vital role player helped the Sycamores finish as the NAIA National Finalist.
The tournament MVP has been presented with the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player award since 1939.
Men's Basketball Championship History; currently held Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.
# – Lowest scoring game.
† – Highest scoring game.
* – Denotes each overtime.
NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship; currently held at Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO near Branson, Missouri.
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