1956 NAIA basketball tournament

The 1956 NAIA basketball tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 19th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format. 1956 would be the last tournament with unseeded teams.

1956 NAIA men's basketball tournament
Season195556
Teams32
Finals siteMunicipal Auditorium
Kansas City, Missouri
ChampionsMcNeese State (1st title, 1st title game,
1st Final Four)
Runner-upTexas Southern (1st title game,
1st Final Four)
Semifinalists
  • Pittsburg State (2nd Final Four)
  • Wheaton (IL) (1st Final Four)
Coach of the yearJohn Lance (Pittsburg State)
MVPBill Reigel (McNeese State)
NAIA men's basketball tournament
«1955 1957»

The championship game featured McNeese State University and Texas Southern University. It was the first and only appearance for the McNeese State made in the NAIA tournament. The Cowboys beat the Tigers, 60–55.

The third-place game featured Pittsburg State who defeated the Wheaton Thunder, 77–70. This tournament featured six all-time leading scorers.

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