Sport Basketball No. of teams 32 | Founded 1937 | |
Most recent
champion(s) DI Mid America Christian (OK)
DII Union College (Ky) TV partner(s) CBS College Sports Network (national)
TWC Sports Channel (Kansas City area)Victory Sports Network (national) | ||
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.
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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.
Division I
Men's Basketball Championship History; currently held Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.
# – Lowest scoring game.
† – Highest scoring game.
* – Denotes each overtime.
Division II
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.
# – Lowest scoring game.
† – Highest scoring game.
* – Denotes each overtime.