The 1972 NAIA men's basketball tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 35th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format.[1]
This year was the first and only tournament since seeding began in 1957 that all 4 top seeded teams made it to the national semi-finals. Seeding was changed in 2016, so each bracket is now seeded 1 thru 8. Kentucky State became the second team to win three titles in a row, joining Tennessee State (1957, 1958, 1959).
Awards and honors
Leading scorer: Travis Grant, Kentucky State
Leading rebounder: Mike Ratliff, Wisconsin-Eau Claire 81 rebounds in 5 games.
Player of the Year: est. 1994
Most Points Single Game: 60, Travis Grant, Kentucky State vs. Minot State (N.D.)
Most Points Single Tournament: 213, Travis Grant, Kentucky State
Most Points, Career: 518, Travis Grant, Kentucky State, 1970-71-72
Most Field Goals Made, Game: 27, Travis Grant, Kentucky State vs. Minot State (N.D.)
Most Field Goals Made, Tournament: 89, Travis Grant, Kentucky State
Most Field Goals Made, Career: 223, Travis Grant, Kentucky State, 1970-71-72 [2]
The third-place game featured the losing teams from the national semifinalist to determine 3rd and 4th places in the tournament. This game was played until 1988.