1996 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament

1996 NCAA Division II
men's basketball tournament

Teams	48
Finals site	Commonwealth Convention Center Louisville, Kentucky
Champions	Fort Hays State (1st title)
Runner-up	Northern Kentucky (1st title game)
Semifinalists	California (PA) (2nd Final Four) Virginia Union (4th Final Four)
Winning coach	Gary Garner (1st title)
MOP	Sherick Simpson (FHSU)
NCAA Division II men's tournaments « 1995 1997 »

The 1996 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament was the 40th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball in the United States.

The tournament, which featured forty-eight teams, culminated the 1995–96 NCAA Division II men's basketball season.

The Elite Eight, national semifinals, and championship were played at the Commonwealth Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Fort Hays State (34–0) defeated Northern Kentucky in the final, 70–63, to win their first Division II national title.

Normal

California

Goffstown

Hays

Richmond

Evansville

Bakersfield

Rolla

Louisville

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1996 NCAA Division II Men's sites - regionals (cyan) Elite Eight (red)

Regionals

East - California, Pennsylvania

Location: Hamer Hall Host: California University of Pennsylvania

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional final Sweet 16 March 9
						1	California (PA)	84
						5	Edinboro	76
	4	Bloomsburg	82
	5	Edinboro	90
											1	California (PA)	78
											2	Indiana (PA)	68
	3	Fairmont State	78
	6	Bluefield State	66
						2	Indiana (PA)	84
						3	Fairmont State	83

South - Normal, Alabama

Location: Elmore Coliseum Host: Alabama A&M University

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional final Sweet 16 March 9
						1	Alabama A&M	106
						4	South Carolina-Spartanburg	91
	4	South Carolina-Spartanburg	91
	5	Clark Atlanta	71
											1	Alabama A&M	98
											3	Columbus	82
	3	Columbus (OT)	88
	6	Rollins	80
						2	Florida Southern	77
						3	Columbus	83

North Central - Hays, Kansas

Location: Gross Memorial Coliseum Host: Fort Hays State University

	First round Round of 48 March 8					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9					Regional final Sweet 16 March 10
						1	Fort Hays State	97
						5	Regis	69
	4	Nebraska–Kearney	70
	5	Regis (CO)	73
											1	Fort Hays State	99
											2	South Dakota State	90
	3	Denver	70
	6	North Dakota State	71
						2	South Dakota State	94
						6	North Dakota State	88

South Central - Rolla, Missouri

Location: Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building Host: University of Missouri at Rolla

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional final Sweet 16 March 9
						1	Missouri-Rolla	72
						4	Central Missouri State	67
	4	Central Missouri State (OT)	89
	5	East Texas State	86
											1	Missouri-Rolla	80
											3	North Alabama	92
	3	North Alabama	78
	6	Delta State	69
						2	Texas A&M–Kingsville	80
						3	North Alabama	85

Northeast - Goffstown, New Hampshire

Location: Stoutenburgh Gymnasium Host: Saint Anselm College

	First round Round of 48 March 8					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9					Regional final Sweet 16 March 10
						1	St. Anselm	78
						4	Franklin Pierce	70
	4	Franklin Pierce	83
	5	Le Moyne	53
											1	St. Anselm	76
											2	St. Rose	87
	3	Adelphi	52
	6	New Hampshire College	68
						2	St. Rose	83
						6	New Hampshire College	82

South Atlantic - Richmond, Virginia

Location: Arthur Ashe Athletic Center Host: Virginia Union University

	First round Round of 48 March 6					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 7					Regional final Sweet 16 March 8
						1	Virginia Union	49
						5	Pfeiffer	47
	4	North Carolina Central	62
	5	Pfeiffer	71
											1	Virginia Union	81
											2	Queens (NC)	58
	3	High Point	76
	6	Presbyterian	67
						2	Queens (NC)	81
						3	High Point	70

Great Lakes - Evansville, Indiana

Location: Physical Activities Center Host: University of Southern Indiana

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional final Sweet 16 March 9
						1	Southern Indiana	75
						4	Indianapolis	71
	4	Indianapolis	105
	5	Lake Superior State	81
											1	Southern Indiana	87
											2	Northern Kentucky	99
	3	Northern State	98
	6	Oakland	92
						2	Northern Kentucky	82
						3	Northern State	71

West - Bakersfield, California

Location: CSUB Student Activities Center Host: California State University, Bakersfield

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional final Sweet 16 March 9
						1	Cal State Bakersfield	71
						5	Grand Canyon	65
	4	Alaska-Anchorage	96
	5	Grand Canyon (OT)	105
											1	Cal State Bakersfield	78
											2	Seattle Pacific	65
	3	Cal Davis	89
	6	Montana State-Billings	80
						2	Seattle Pacific	79
						3	Cal Davis	65

Elite Eight-Louisville, Kentucky

Location: Commonwealth Convention Center Host: Bellarmine College

National Quarterfinals Elite Eight March 20

National semifinals Final Four March 21

National championship March 23

E

California (PA)

95

S

Alabama A&M

85

E

California (PA)

56

NC

Fort Hays State

76

NC

Fort Hays State

71

SC

North Alabama

68

NC

Fort Hays State

70

Louisville, Kentucky

GL

Northern Kentucky

63

SA

Virginia Union

99

NE

Saint Rose

72

SA

Virginia Union

66

GL

Northern Kentucky

68

GL

Northern Kentucky

56

W

Cal State Bakersfield

55

All-tournament team

• Sherick Simpson, Fort Hays State
• Paul Cluxton, Northern Kentucky
• LaRon Moore, Northern Kentucky
• Alonzo Goldston, Fort Hays State
• Kebu Stewart, Cal State Bakersfield

See also

• 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament

References

• 1996 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament jonfmorse.com