# 2016 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament

The 2016 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament was a single-elimination tournament involving 62 teams to determine the men's collegiate basketball national champion of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The tournament took place during March 2016, with the national semifinal and championship rounds taking place at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia.
St. Thomas (MN) defeated Benedictine (IL), 82–76, to win their second Division III national championship.

## Qualifying teams
### Automatic bids (43)

The following 43 teams were automatic qualifiers for the 2016 NCAA field by virtue of winning their conference's automatic bid (except for the UAA, whose regular-season champion received the automatic bid).
Automatic bids :
| Conference | Team | Record (Conf.) | Appearance | Last bid |
| Allegheny Mountain | Pitt–Greensburg | 19–9 (13–5) | 1st | Never |
| American Southwest | Hardin–Simmons | 18–10 (8–6) | 1st | Never |
| Capital | Christopher Newport | 26–1 (18–0) | 20th | 2013 |
| Centennial | Franklin & Marshall | 22–5 (15–3) | 24th | 2012 |
| CUNYAC | Brooklyn | 22–6 (11–5) | 4th | 2010 |
| CCIW | Augustana (IL) | 26–1 (13–1) | 15th | 2015 |
| Colonial States | Gwynedd Mercy | 21–6 (17–1) | 5th | 2011 |
| Commonwealth Coast | Endicott | 18–10 (12–6) | 7th | 2015 |
| Empire 8 | Hartwick | 19–8 (12–4) | 8th | 2014 |
| Great Northeast | Johnson & Wales (RI) | 26–2 (17–1) | 3rd | 2011 |
| Heartland | Mount St. Joseph | 18–9 (13–5) | 1st | Never |
| Iowa | Central (IA) | 19–9 (7–7) | 11th | 2014 |
| Landmark | Catholic | 22–5 (13–3) | 14th | 2015 |
| Liberty | Skidmore | 18–8 (11–5) | 4th | 2015 |
| Little East | Keene State | 18–10 (8–6) | 4th | 2015 |
| MAC Commonwealth | Lycoming | 19–9 (8–8) | 6th | 2010 |
| MAC Freedom | Delaware Valley | 20–7 (9–5) | 3rd | 2013 |
| MASCAC | Fitchburg State | 18–9 (9–3) | 2nd | 2013 |
| Michigan | Alma | 21–6 (12–2) | 1st | Never |
| Midwest | St. Norbert | 26–2 (18–0) | 8th | 2015 |
| Minnesota | St. Olaf | 18–9 (14–6) | 3rd | 2015 |
| NECC | Southern Vermont | 24–3 (16–0) | 2nd | 2003 |
| NESCAC | Middlebury | 17–10 (6–4) | 7th | 2013 |
| NEWMAC | Babson | 21–5 (13–1) | 8th | 2015 |
| New Jersey | Stockton | 21–6 (14–4) | 16th | 2015 |
| North Atlantic | Husson | 21–6 (15–3) | 5th | 2014 |
| North Coast | Denison | 17–11 (9–9) | 2nd | 1997 |
| NEAC | Lancaster Bible | 27–0 (18–0) | 1st | Never |
| Northern Athletics | Benedictine (IL) | 27–0 (20–0) | 7th | 2011 |
| Northwest | Whitworth | 26–1 (15–1) | 11th | 2015 |
| Ohio | John Carroll | 25–3 (15–3) | 14th | 2015 |
| Old Dominion | Lynchburg | 22–6 (12–4) | 3rd | 1979 |
| Presidents' | Saint Vincent | 22–6 (15–3) | 4th | 2015 |
| Skyline | Old Westbury | 19–8 (16–4) | 2nd | 2004 |
| Southern | Birmingham–Southern | 22–6 (14–0) | 2nd | 2012 |
| SCIAC | Chapman | 20–6 (12–4) | 4th | 2014 |
| SCAC | Texas Lutheran | 21–6 (11–3) | 2nd | 2015 |
| SLIAC | Westminster (MO) | 12–15 (10–8) | 4th | 2012 |
| SUNYAC | SUNY Cortland | 20–7 (12–6) | 6th | 2013 |
| UAA | Emory | 18–7 (11–3) | 5th | 2015 |
| Upper Midwest | Northwestern–St. Paul | 22–5 (12–4) | 6th | 2015 |
| USA South | Covenant | 18–9 (10–4) | 1st | Never |
| Wisconsin | UW–Oshkosh | 18–9 (9–5) | 6th | 2003 |

### At-large bids (19)

The following 19 teams were awarded qualification for the 2016 NCAA field by the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Committee. The committee evaluated teams on the basis of their win-loss percentage, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, results against common opponents, and results against teams included in the NCAA's final regional rankings.
At-large bids :
| Conference | Team | Record (Conf.) | Appearance | Last bid |
| NESCAC | Amherst | 22–5 (8–2) | 18th | 2015 |
| CCIW | Elmhurst | 21–6 (10–4) | 5th | 2015 |
| Michigan | Hope | 23–3 (13–1) | 25th | 2014 |
| USA South | LaGrange | 20–9 (9–5) | 3rd | 2015 |
| Ohio | Marietta | 25–3 (17–1) | 5th | 2015 |
| CCIW | North Central (IL) | 19–7 (12–2) | 8th | 2013 |
| UAA | NYU | 20–5 (9–5) | 10th | 2012 |
| North Coast | Ohio Wesleyan | 23–4 (15–3) | 7th | 2015 |
| SUNYAC | Oswego State | 20–8 (11–7) | 4th | 2015 |
| SUNYAC | Plattsburgh State | 21–5 (16–2) | 9th | 2014 |
| Minnesota | St. Thomas (MN) | 24–3 (18–2) | 17th | 2015 |
| Capital | Salisbury | 21–6 (13–5) | 7th | 2015 |
| Landmark | Scranton | 19–7 (11–5) | 27th | 2015 |
| Landmark | Susquehanna | 23–4 (13–3) | 6th | 1994 |
| NESCAC | Trinity (CT) | 19–7 (9–1) | 9th | 2015 |
| NESCAC | Tufts | 20–6 (7–3) | 4th | 2006 |
| Northwest | Whitman | 22–4 (14–2) | 1st | Never |
| North Coast | Wooster | 21–7 (15–3) | 25th | 2015 |
| NEWMAC | WPI | 20–6 (10–4) | 12th | 2015 |

## Tournament bracket
### Top-left - Lisle, Illinois

| First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Third round March 11 Lisle, IL | Third round March 11 Lisle, IL | Third round March 11 Lisle, IL | | Regional finals March 12 Lisle, IL | Regional finals March 12 Lisle, IL | Regional finals March 12 Lisle, IL |
| | | | Benedictine (IL) | Benedictine (IL) | 85 | | | | | | | |
| Seguin, TX / Lisle, IL | Seguin, TX / Lisle, IL | Seguin, TX / Lisle, IL | Benedictine (IL) | Benedictine (IL) | 85 | | | | | | | |
| Seguin, TX / Lisle, IL | Seguin, TX / Lisle, IL | Seguin, TX / Lisle, IL | Hardin–Simmons | Hardin–Simmons | 64 | | | | | | | |
| Texas Lutheran | Texas Lutheran | 81 | Hardin–Simmons | Hardin–Simmons | 64 | | | | | | | |
| Hardin–Simmons | Hardin–Simmons | 97 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hardin–Simmons | Hardin–Simmons | 97 | | | | Benedictine (IL) | Benedictine (IL) | 97 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ohio Wesleyan | Ohio Wesleyan | 84 | | | | |
| Ohio Wesleyan | Ohio Wesleyan | 114 | | | | | | | Ohio Wesleyan | Ohio Wesleyan | 84 | | | | |
| Pitt–Greensburg | Pitt–Greensburg | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pitt–Greensburg | Pitt–Greensburg | 68 | Ohio Wesleyan | Ohio Wesleyan | 97 | | | | | | | |
| Delaware, OH | Delaware, OH | Delaware, OH | Ohio Wesleyan | Ohio Wesleyan | 97 | | | | | | | |
| Delaware, OH | Delaware, OH | Delaware, OH | Lynchburg | Lynchburg | 94 | | | | | | | |
| Lynchburg | Lynchburg | 82 | Lynchburg | Lynchburg | 94 | | | | | | | |
| Scranton | Scranton | 55 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Scranton | Scranton | 55 | | | | | | | | Benedictine (IL) | Benedictine (IL) | 93 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Alma | Alma | 73 |
| St. Norbert | St. Norbert | 77 | | | | | | | | | | | Alma | Alma | 73 |
| Northwestern–St. Paul | Northwestern–St. Paul | 58 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Northwestern–St. Paul | Northwestern–St. Paul | 58 | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | 63 | | | | | | | |
| De Pere, WI | De Pere, WI | De Pere, WI | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | 63 | | | | | | | |
| De Pere, WI | De Pere, WI | De Pere, WI | St. Olaf | St. Olaf | 61 | | | | | | | |
| North Central (IL) | North Central (IL) | 78 | St. Olaf | St. Olaf | 61 | | | | | | | |
| St. Olaf | St. Olaf | 80 | | | | | | | | | | |
| St. Olaf | St. Olaf | 80 | | | | St. Norbert | St. Norbert | 64 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Alma | Alma | 70 | | | | |
| John Carroll | John Carroll | 99 | | | | | | | Alma | Alma | 70 | | | | |
| Saint Vincent | Saint Vincent | 85 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Saint Vincent | Saint Vincent | 85 | John Carroll | John Carroll | 83 | | | | | | | |
| University Heights, OH | University Heights, OH | University Heights, OH | John Carroll | John Carroll | 83 | | | | | | | |
| University Heights, OH | University Heights, OH | University Heights, OH | Alma | Alma | 90 | | | | | | | |
| Alma | Alma | 74 | Alma | Alma | 90 | | | | | | | |
| Denison | Denison | 60 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom-left - Medford, Massachusetts

| First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Third round March 11 Medford, MA | Third round March 11 Medford, MA | Third round March 11 Medford, MA | | Regional finals March 12 Medford, MA | Regional finals March 12 Medford, MA | Regional finals March 12 Medford, MA |
| Amherst | Amherst | 74 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Husson | Husson | 72 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Husson | Husson | 72 | Amherst | Amherst | 69 | | | | | | | |
| Amherst, MA | Amherst, MA | Amherst, MA | Amherst | Amherst | 69 | | | | | | | |
| Amherst, MA | Amherst, MA | Amherst, MA | SUNY Cortland | SUNY Cortland | 68 | | | | | | | |
| WPI | WPI | 50 | SUNY Cortland | SUNY Cortland | 68 | | | | | | | |
| SUNY Cortland | SUNY Cortland | 69 | | | | | | | | | | |
| SUNY Cortland | SUNY Cortland | 69 | | | | Amherst | Amherst | 88 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Babson | Babson | 76 | | | | |
| Susquehanna | Susquehanna | 77 | | | | | | | Babson | Babson | 76 | | | | |
| Old Westbury | Old Westbury | 73 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Old Westbury | Old Westbury | 73 | Susquehanna | Susquehanna | 67 | | | | | | | |
| Selinsgrove, PA | Selinsgrove, PA | Selinsgrove, PA | Susquehanna | Susquehanna | 67 | | | | | | | |
| Selinsgrove, PA | Selinsgrove, PA | Selinsgrove, PA | Babson | Babson | 70 | | | | | | | |
| Babson | Babson | 80 | Babson | Babson | 70 | | | | | | | |
| Hartwick | Hartwick | 69 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hartwick | Hartwick | 69 | | | | | | | | Amherst | Amherst | 86 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Tufts | Tufts | 73 |
| Plattsburgh State | Plattsburgh State | 81 | | | | | | | | | | | Tufts | Tufts | 73 |
| Fitchburg State | Fitchburg State | 84 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fitchburg State | Fitchburg State | 84 | Fitchburg State | Fitchburg State | 74 | | | | | | | |
| Plattsburgh, NY | Plattsburgh, NY | Plattsburgh, NY | Fitchburg State | Fitchburg State | 74 | | | | | | | |
| Plattsburgh, NY | Plattsburgh, NY | Plattsburgh, NY | Johnson & Wales (RI) | Johnson & Wales (RI) | 86 | | | | | | | |
| Trinity (CT) | Trinity (CT) | 73 | Johnson & Wales (RI) | Johnson & Wales (RI) | 86 | | | | | | | |
| Johnson & Wales (RI) | Johnson & Wales (RI) | 75 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Johnson & Wales (RI) | Johnson & Wales (RI) | 75 | | | | Johnson & Wales (RI) | Johnson & Wales (RI) | 85 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tufts | Tufts | 101 | | | | |
| Tufts | Tufts | 78 | | | | | | | Tufts | Tufts | 101 | | | | |
| Southern Vermont | Southern Vermont | 76 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Southern Vermont | Southern Vermont | 76 | Tufts | Tufts | 88 | | | | | | | |
| Medford, MA | Medford, MA | Medford, MA | Tufts | Tufts | 88 | | | | | | | |
| Medford, MA | Medford, MA | Medford, MA | Skidmore | Skidmore | 80 | | | | | | | |
| Franklin & Marshall | Franklin & Marshall | 72 | Skidmore | Skidmore | 80 | | | | | | | |
| Skidmore | Skidmore | 83 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Top-right - Rock Island, Illinois

| First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Third round March 11 Rock Island, IL | Third round March 11 Rock Island, IL | Third round March 11 Rock Island, IL | | Regional finals March 12 Rock Island, IL | Regional finals March 12 Rock Island, IL | Regional finals March 12 Rock Island, IL |
| Augustana (IL) | Augustana (IL) | 105 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Westminster (MO) | Westminster (MO) | 52 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Westminster (MO) | Westminster (MO) | 52 | Augustana (IL) | Augustana (IL) | 96 | | | | | | | |
| Rock Island, IL | Rock Island, IL | Rock Island, IL | Augustana (IL) | Augustana (IL) | 96 | | | | | | | |
| Rock Island, IL | Rock Island, IL | Rock Island, IL | Hope | Hope | 80 | | | | | | | |
| Hope | Hope | 98 | Hope | Hope | 80 | | | | | | | |
| Mount St. Joseph | Mount St. Joseph | 87 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mount St. Joseph | Mount St. Joseph | 87 | | | | Augustana (IL) | Augustana (IL) | 88 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Emory | Emory | 65 | | | | |
| Emory | Emory | 76 | | | | | | | Emory | Emory | 65 | | | | |
| Covenant | Covenant | 61 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Covenant | Covenant | 61 | Emory | Emory | 84* | | | | | | | |
| Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA | Emory | Emory | 84* | | | | | | | |
| Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta, GA | Birmingham–Southern | Birmingham–Southern | 78 | | | | | | | |
| LaGrange | LaGrange | 88 | Birmingham–Southern | Birmingham–Southern | 78 | | | | | | | |
| Birmingham–Southern | Birmingham–Southern | 93 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Birmingham–Southern | Birmingham–Southern | 93 | | | | | | | | Augustana (IL) | Augustana (IL) | 76 |
| | | | | | | | | | | St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 86 |
| St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 78 | | | | | | | | | | | St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 86 |
| Central (IA) | Central (IA) | 66 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Central (IA) | Central (IA) | 66 | St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 94 | | | | | | | |
| Saint Paul, MN | Saint Paul, MN | Saint Paul, MN | St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 94 | | | | | | | |
| Saint Paul, MN | Saint Paul, MN | Saint Paul, MN | Elmhurst | Elmhurst | 81 | | | | | | | |
| Elmhurst | Elmhurst | 73 | Elmhurst | Elmhurst | 81 | | | | | | | |
| UW–Oshkosh | UW–Oshkosh | 63 | | | | | | | | | | |
| UW–Oshkosh | UW–Oshkosh | 63 | | | | St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 99 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Whitman | Whitman | 73 | | | | |
| Whitman | Whitman | 91 | | | | | | | Whitman | Whitman | 73 | | | | |
| Chapman | Chapman | 84 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chapman | Chapman | 84 | Whitman | Whitman | 88 | | | | | | | |
| Walla Walla, WA / Spokane, WA | Walla Walla, WA / Spokane, WA | Walla Walla, WA / Spokane, WA | Whitman | Whitman | 88 | | | | | | | |
| Walla Walla, WA / Spokane, WA | Walla Walla, WA / Spokane, WA | Walla Walla, WA / Spokane, WA | Whitworth | Whitworth | 86 | | | | | | | |
* – Denotes overtime period

### Bottom-right - Oswego, New York

| First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | First round March 3–4 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Second round March 5 Campus Sites | Third round March 11 Oswego, NY | Third round March 11 Oswego, NY | Third round March 11 Oswego, NY | | Regional finals March 12 Oswego, NY | Regional finals March 12 Oswego, NY | Regional finals March 12 Oswego, NY |
| Christopher Newport | Christopher Newport | 79 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lycoming | Lycoming | 71 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lycoming | Lycoming | 71 | Christopher Newport | Christopher Newport | 67 | | | | | | | |
| Newport News, VA | Newport News, VA | Newport News, VA | Christopher Newport | Christopher Newport | 67 | | | | | | | |
| Newport News, VA | Newport News, VA | Newport News, VA | NYU | NYU | 64 | | | | | | | |
| Brooklyn | Brooklyn | 67 | NYU | NYU | 64 | | | | | | | |
| NYU | NYU | 86 | | | | | | | | | | |
| NYU | NYU | 86 | | | | Christopher Newport | Christopher Newport | 74 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Keene State | Keene State | 62 | | | | |
| Stockton | Stockton | 71 | | | | | | | Keene State | Keene State | 62 | | | | |
| Keene State | Keene State | 72* | | | | | | | | | | |
| Keene State | Keene State | 72* | Keene State | Keene State | 72 | | | | | | | |
| Galloway Township, NJ | Galloway Township, NJ | Galloway Township, NJ | Keene State | Keene State | 72 | | | | | | | |
| Galloway Township, NJ | Galloway Township, NJ | Galloway Township, NJ | Middlebury | Middlebury | 71 | | | | | | | |
| Salisbury | Salisbury | 73 | Middlebury | Middlebury | 71 | | | | | | | |
| Middlebury | Middlebury | 75 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Middlebury | Middlebury | 75 | | | | | | | | Christopher Newport | Christopher Newport | 81 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Wooster | Wooster | 61 |
| Marietta | Marietta | 85 | | | | | | | | | | | Wooster | Wooster | 61 |
| Gwynedd Mercy | Gwynedd Mercy | 86 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gwynedd Mercy | Gwynedd Mercy | 86 | Gwynedd Mercy | Gwynedd Mercy | 77 | | | | | | | |
| Marietta, OH | Marietta, OH | Marietta, OH | Gwynedd Mercy | Gwynedd Mercy | 77 | | | | | | | |
| Marietta, OH | Marietta, OH | Marietta, OH | Oswego State | Oswego State | 78 | | | | | | | |
| Oswego State | Oswego State | 88* | Oswego State | Oswego State | 78 | | | | | | | |
| Delaware Valley | Delaware Valley | 78 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Delaware Valley | Delaware Valley | 78 | | | | Oswego State | Oswego State | 65 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Wooster | Wooster | 66 | | | | |
| Catholic | Catholic | 76 | | | | | | | Wooster | Wooster | 66 | | | | |
| Endicott | Endicott | 84 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Endicott | Endicott | 84 | Endicott | Endicott | 83 | | | | | | | |
| Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | Endicott | Endicott | 83 | | | | | | | |
| Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | Wooster | Wooster | 91* | | | | | | | |
| Wooster | Wooster | 96 | Wooster | Wooster | 91* | | | | | | | |
| Lancaster Bible | Lancaster Bible | 83 | | | | | | | | | | |
* – Denotes overtime period

### Final Four - Salem, Virginia

| Semifinals Friday, March 18 | Semifinals Friday, March 18 | Semifinals Friday, March 18 | National championship Saturday, March 19 | National championship Saturday, March 19 | National championship Saturday, March 19 |
| Benedictine (IL) | Benedictine (IL) | 63 | | | |
| Amherst | Amherst | 60 | | | |
| Amherst | Amherst | 60 | Benedictine (IL) | Benedictine (IL) | 76 |
| | | | St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 82 |
| St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 66 | St. Thomas (MN) | St. Thomas (MN) | 82 |
| Christopher Newport | Christopher Newport | 62 | | | |
Bracket:
Records Book:

## All-Tournament Team

Taylor Montero - St. Thomas (MN) (Most Outstanding Player)
Ryan Saarela - St. Thomas (MN) Grant Schafer - St. Thomas (MN) Luke Johnson - Benedictine Connor Green - Amherst