# 1996 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament

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.

## Regionals
### East - California, Pennsylvania

Location: Hamer Hall Host: California University of Pennsylvania
| First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | California (PA) | 84 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Edinboro | 76 | | | |
| 4 | Bloomsburg | 82 | 5 | Edinboro | 76 | | | |
| 5 | Edinboro | 90 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Edinboro | 90 | | | | 1 | California (PA) | 78 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Indiana (PA) | 68 |
| 3 | Fairmont State | 78 | | | | | | | 2 | Indiana (PA) | 68 |
| 6 | Bluefield State | 66 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | Alabama A&M | 106 | | | |
| | | | 4 | South Carolina-Spartanburg | 91 | | | |
| 4 | South Carolina-Spartanburg | 91 | 4 | South Carolina-Spartanburg | 91 | | | |
| 5 | Clark Atlanta | 71 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Clark Atlanta | 71 | | | | 1 | Alabama A&M | 98 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Columbus | 82 |
| 3 | Columbus (OT) | 88 | | | | | | | 3 | Columbus | 82 |
| 6 | Rollins | 80 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 8 | First round Round of 48 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 10 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 10 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 10 |
| | | | 1 | Fort Hays State | 97 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Regis | 69 | | | |
| 4 | Nebraska–Kearney | 70 | 5 | Regis | 69 | | | |
| 5 | Regis (CO) | 73 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Regis (CO) | 73 | | | | 1 | Fort Hays State | 99 |
| | | | | | | 2 | South Dakota State | 90 |
| 3 | Denver | 70 | | | | | | | 2 | South Dakota State | 90 |
| 6 | North Dakota State | 71 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | Missouri-Rolla | 72 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Central Missouri State | 67 | | | |
| 4 | Central Missouri State (OT) | 89 | 4 | Central Missouri State | 67 | | | |
| 5 | East Texas State | 86 | | | | | | |
| 5 | East Texas State | 86 | | | | 1 | Missouri-Rolla | 80 |
| | | | | | | 3 | North Alabama | 92 |
| 3 | North Alabama | 78 | | | | | | | 3 | North Alabama | 92 |
| 6 | Delta State | 69 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Delta State | 69 | 2 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 80 | | | |
| | | | 3 | North Alabama | 85 | | | |

### Northeast - Loudonville, New York

Location: Alumni Recreation Center Host: Siena College
| First round Round of 48 March 8 | First round Round of 48 March 8 | First round Round of 48 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 10 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 10 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 10 |
| | | | 1 | St. Anselm | 78 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Franklin Pierce | 70 | | | |
| 4 | Franklin Pierce | 83 | 4 | Franklin Pierce | 70 | | | |
| 5 | Le Moyne | 53 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Le Moyne | 53 | | | | 1 | St. Anselm | 76 |
| | | | | | | 2 | St. Rose | 87 |
| 3 | Adelphi | 52 | | | | | | | 2 | St. Rose | 87 |
| 6 | New Hampshire College | 68 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 6 | First round Round of 48 March 6 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 7 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 8 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 8 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 8 |
| | | | 1 | Virginia Union | 49 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Pfeiffer | 47 | | | |
| 4 | North Carolina Central | 62 | 5 | Pfeiffer | 47 | | | |
| 5 | Pfeiffer | 71 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Pfeiffer | 71 | | | | 1 | Virginia Union | 81 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Queens (NC) | 58 |
| 3 | High Point | 76 | | | | | | | 2 | Queens (NC) | 58 |
| 6 | Presbyterian | 67 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | Southern Indiana | 75 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Indianapolis | 71 | | | |
| 4 | Indianapolis | 105 | 4 | Indianapolis | 71 | | | |
| 5 | Lake Superior State | 81 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Lake Superior State | 81 | | | | 1 | Southern Indiana | 87 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Northern Kentucky | 99 |
| 3 | Northern State | 98 | | | | | | | 2 | Northern Kentucky | 99 |
| 6 | Oakland | 92 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional final Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | Cal State Bakersfield | 71 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Grand Canyon | 65 | | | |
| 4 | Alaska-Anchorage | 96 | 5 | Grand Canyon | 65 | | | |
| 5 | Grand Canyon (OT) | 105 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Grand Canyon (OT) | 105 | | | | 1 | Cal State Bakersfield | 78 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Seattle Pacific | 65 |
| 3 | Cal Davis | 89 | | | | | | | 2 | Seattle Pacific | 65 |
| 6 | Montana State-Billings | 80 | | | | | | |
| 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 Quarterfinals Elite Eight March 20 | National Quarterfinals Elite Eight March 20 | | | National semifinals Final Four March 21 | National semifinals Final Four March 21 | National semifinals Final Four March 21 | National championship March 23 | National championship March 23 | National championship March 23 |
| E | California (PA) | 95 | | | | | | | | |
| S | Alabama A&M | 85 | | | | | | | | |
| S | Alabama A&M | 85 | | | E | California (PA) | 56 | | | |
| | | | | | NC | Fort Hays State | 76 | | | |
| NC | Fort Hays State | 71 | | | NC | Fort Hays State | 76 | | | |
| SC | North Alabama | 68 | | | | | | | | |
| SC | North Alabama | 68 | | | | | | NC | Fort Hays State | 70 |
| Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | NC | Fort Hays State | 70 |
| Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | GL | Northern Kentucky | 63 |
| SA | Virginia Union | 99 | | | | | | | | | GL | Northern Kentucky | 63 |
| NE | Saint Rose | 72 | | | | | | | | |
| NE | Saint Rose | 72 | | | SA | Virginia Union | 66 | | | |
| | | | | | GL | Northern Kentucky | 68 | | | |
| GL | Northern Kentucky | 56 | | | GL | Northern Kentucky | 68 | | | |
| 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