The NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament (officially styled as "Championship" instead of "Tournament") is a tournament to determine the NCAA Division III national champion. It has been held annually from 1975 to 2019 & since 2022, but not played in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 issues.
From 1996 to 2012 and 2014 to 2018, the NCAA Division III men's basketball championship was held at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia. The event had been hosted by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and the City of Salem. From 2017 to 2020 & since 2022, the tournament has been a 64-team single-elimination tournament, with teams advancing from four sectionals to the semifinals and final in Fort Wayne.
For 2013, as part of the celebration of the 75th NCAA Division I tournament, the championship games in both the NCAA Division II and Division III tournaments were played at Philips Arena, now known as State Farm Arena, in Atlanta. From 2014 to 2018, the final game returned to Salem. Currently, the Final Four is held in Fort Wayne, Indiana at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. For 2020 only, the national semifinals were to be played in Fort Wayne, but the championship game was to have returned to Atlanta, with the NCAA choosing to hold the championship games of both Divisions II and III as part of the festivities surrounding the men's Division I Final Four; however, the NCAA decided to abandon the tournament after the second round, 16 teams remaining. The NCAA also canceled the 2021 tournament after a majority of D-III conferences chose not to play due to continued COVID-19 issues. Of teams and conferences that played, D3Hoops' top two ranked teams, No. 1 Randolph–Macon College and No. 2 Trine University, opted to play a self-organised mythical national championship game. Randolph-Macon won, 69–55.
Mary Washington is the defending national champion, beating Emory 75–73 in the 2026 championship.
Qualification Since 2024–25, a total of 64 bids have been available for each tournament: 43 automatic bids, awarded to the champions of all Division III conferences. 21 at-large bids.
Conference tournaments Schools in italics are, as of the current 2025–26 basketball season, no longer members of that specific conference. NCAA Division III men's conference tournamentsConferenceTournamentMost titlesCurrent champion (2026)Allegheny Mountain Tournament Penn State Behrend (7) Penn State Behrend (7th) American Rivers Tournament Buena Vista (7) Loras (4th)American Southwest Tournament Mississippi College (5)UT Dallas (5) Mary Hardin–Baylor (4th)Atlantic East Tournament Neumann (3) Neumann (3rd)Centennial Tournament Franklin & Marshall (9) Gettysburg (4th)CUNYAC Tournament Staten Island (15) Lehman (6th)Coast to Coast (C2C) Tournament Catholic (7) Mary Washington (4th)CCIW Tournament Augustana (6) Illinois Wesleyan (3rd) CCS Tournament Maryville (TN) (2) Belhaven (1st)CNE Tournament Endicott (8) Endicott (8th)Empire 8 Tournament St. John Fisher (8) Keuka (1st)Great Northeast Tournament Albertus Magnus (9) St. Joseph's (ME) (3rd)Heartland Tournament Franklin (7) Transylvania (5th)Landmark Tournament Scranton (8) Susquehanna (3rd)Liberty Tournament Skidmore (5) Vassar (2nd)Little East Tournament UMass Dartmouth (12) Western Connecticut (7th)MASCAC Tournament Salem State (18) Worcester State (4th)Michigan Tournament Hope (16) Hope (16th)MAC Commonwealth Tournaments Scranton (16) Hood (2nd)MAC Freedom Stevens (4th)Midwest Tournament Ripon (8) Grinnell (4th)Minnesota Tournament St. Thomas (MN) (9) Gustavus Adolphus (11th)NESCAC Tournament Amherst (8) Trinity (CT) (4th)NEWMAC Tournament Babson (6)MIT (6) Babson (7th)NJAC Tournament Stockton (6) TCNJ (3rd)North Atlantic Championship Husson (10) Maine–Farmington (2nd)NCAC Tournament Wooster (16) John Carroll (1st)NACC Tournament Aurora (7) Aurora (7th)Northwest Tournament Whitworth (17) Whitworth (17th)Ohio Tournament Wittenberg (14) Heidelberg (2nd)ODAC Tournament Hampden–Sydney (11)Roanoke (11) Roanoke (11th)Presidents Tournament Bethany (6) Washington & Jefferson (2nd)SLIAC Tournament Fontbonne (7) MUW (1st)Skyline Tournament Farmingdale State (7) Yeshiva (5th)SAA Tournament Berry (5) Rhodes (3rd)SCIAC Tournament Claremont–Mudd–Scripps (8) Redlands (3rd)SCACTournament Trinity (TX) (6) St. Thomas (TX) (4th)SUNYAC Tournament Buffalo State (15) Cortland (5th) United East Championship Morrisville State (5) Penn State Harrisburg (4th)UAANo tournamentUMAC Tournament Northwestern–St. Paul (13) Bethany Lutheran (6th)USA South Tournament Christopher Newport (15) North Carolina Wesleyan (6th)WIAC Tournament Wisconsin–Stevens Point (9) Wisconsin–La Crosse (1st)
Defunct conferences Defunct NCAA Division III men's conference tournamentsConferenceTournamentFirst yearLast yearMost titles Colonial States Tournament 1994 2023 Cabrini (13) NECC Tournament 2009 2023 Elms and Mitchell (4)
Summary NCAA Division III Men's Basketball ChampionshipYear Finals SiteChampionship GameSemifinalistsTournament MOP(University)Winner ScoreRunner-up 1975Reading, Pennsylvania LeMoyne–Owen57–54Glassboro StateAugustana (IL)BrockportBob Newman(LeMoyne–Owen)1976 Scranton60–57WittenbergAugustana (IL)Plattsburgh StateJack Maher(Scranton) 1977Rock Island, Illinois Wittenberg79–66 Oneonta State ScrantonHamlineRick White(Wittenberg)1978 North Park69–57 Widener AlbionStony BrookMichael Harper(North Park)1979 North Park (2)66–62SUNY PotsdamFranklin & MarshallCentreMichael Harper(North Park)1980 North Park (3)83–76 UpsalaWittenbergLongwoodMichael Thomas(North Park)1981 Potsdam State67–65 Augustana (IL)UrsinusOtterbeinMaxwell Artis(Augustana (IL)) 1982Grand Rapids, Michigan Wabash83–62Potsdam StateBrooklynStanislaus StatePete Metzelaars(Wabash) 1983 Scranton (2)64–63WittenbergRoanokeWisconsin–WhitewaterBill Bessoir(Scranton) 1984 Wisconsin–Whitewater103–86Clark (MA) DePauwUpsalaAndre McKoy(Wisconsin–Whitewater) 1985 North Park (4)72–71Potsdam StateNebraska WesleyanWidenerEarnest Hubbard(North Park) 1986 Potsdam State (2)76–73 LeMoyne–OwenNebraska WesleyanNew Jersey CityRoosevelt Bullock(Potsdam State) 1987 North Park (5)106–100Clark (MA) WittenbergRichard StocktonMichael Starks(North Park) 1988 Ohio Wesleyan92–70 ScrantonNebraska WesleyanHartwickScott Tedder(Ohio Wesleyan) 1989Springfield, Ohio Wisconsin–Whitewater (2)94–86 Trenton StateSouthern MaineCentreGreg Grant(Trenton State) 1990 Rochester43–42 DePauwWashington CollegeCalvinChris Fite(Rochester) 1991 Wisconsin–Platteville81–74 Franklin & MarshallOtterbeinRamapoShawn Frison(Wisconsin–Platteville) 1992 Calvin 62–49 RochesterWisconsin–PlattevilleNew Jersey CitySteve Honderd(Calvin)1993Buffalo, New York Ohio Northern 71–68 Augustana (IL)RowanUMass DartmouthKirk Anderson(Augustana (IL))1994 Lebanon Valley 66–59 NYUWittenbergSt. Thomas (MN)Mike Rhoades / Adam Crawford(Lebanon Valley / NYU)1995 Wisconsin–Platteville (2)69–55 Manchester (IN)RowanTrinity (CT)Ernie Peavy(Wisconsin–Platteville) 1996Salem, Virginia Rowan 100–93 Hope Illinois WesleyanFranklin & MarshallTerrence Stewart(Rowan)1997 Illinois Wesleyan 89–86 Nebraska WesleyanWilliamsAlverniaBryan Crabtree(Illinois Wesleyan)1998 Wisconsin–Platteville (3)69–56 HopeWilliamsWilkesBen Hoffmann(Wisconsin–Platteville) 1999 Wisconsin–Platteville (4)76–75 Hampden–Sydney Connecticut CollegeWilliam PatersonMerrill Brunson(Wisconsin–Platteville) 2000 Calvin (2) 79–74 Wisconsin–Eau ClaireSalem StateFranklin & MarshallSherm Carstensen(Wisconsin–Eau Claire)2001 Catholic 76–62 William PatersonIllinois WesleyanOhio NorthernPat Maloney(Catholic)2002 Otterbein 102–83 ElizabethtownCarthageRochesterJeff Gibbs(Otterbein)2003 Williams 67–65 Gustavus AdolphusWoosterHampden–SydneyBenjamin Coffin(Williams)2004Kalsow comes through for Pointers - Men's College Basketball - ESPN Wisconsin–Stevens Point 84–82 WilliamsJohn CarrollAmherstNick Bennett(Wisconsin–Stevens Point)2005 Wisconsin–Stevens Point (2) 73–49 RochesterCalvinYork (PA)Jason Kalsow(Wisconsin–Stevens Point)2006 Virginia Wesleyan 59–56Balenga leads Virginia Wesleyan to title - Men's College Basketball - ESPN WittenbergIllinois WesleyanAmherstTon Ton Balenga(Virginia Wesleyan)2007 Amherst 80–67Amherst notches first D-III basketball championship - Men's College Basketball - ESPN Virginia WesleyanWashington–St. LouisWoosterAndrew Olson(Amherst)2008 Washington–St. Louis 90–68 AmherstHopeUrsinusTroy Ruths(Washington–St. Louis)2009 Washington–St. Louis (2) 61–52Washington University repeats as Division-III champion - ESPN Richard StocktonGuilfordFranklin & MarshallSean Wallis(Washington–St. Louis)2010 Wisconsin–Stevens Point (3) 78–73Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers rally to beat Williams College for DIII title - ESPN WilliamsGuilfordRandolph-MaconMatt Moses(Wisconsin–Stevens Point)2011 St. Thomas (MN) 78–54St. Thomas pounds Wooster for NCAA Division III men's title - ESPN WoosterMiddleburyWilliamsTyler Nicolai(St. Thomas (MN))2012 Wisconsin–Whitewater (3) 63–60Wisconsin-Whitewater wins D-III men's hoops crown - ESPN CabriniIllinois WesleyanMITChris Davis(Wisconsin–Whitewater)2013 Atlanta, Georgia Amherst (2) 87–70'Willy stuff' helps Amherst to Division III national title Mary Hardin–BaylorSt. Thomas (MN)North Central (IL)Allen Williamson(Amherst)2014Salem, Virginia Wisconsin–Whitewater (4) 75–73 WilliamsAmherstIllinois WesleyanK.J. Evans(Wisconsin–Whitewater)2015 Wisconsin–Stevens Point (4) 70–54 Augustana (IL)BabsonVirginia WesleyanAustin Ryf(Wisconsin–Stevens Point)2016 St. Thomas (MN) (2) 82–76 BenedictineChristopher NewportAmherstTaylor Montero(St. Thomas (MN))2017 Babson 79–78 Augustana (IL)WhitmanWilliamsJoey Flannery(Babson)2018 Nebraska Wesleyan 78–72 Wisconsin–OshkoshRamapoSpringfieldCooper Cook(Nebraska Wesleyan)2019Fort Wayne, Indiana Wisconsin–Oshkosh 96–82 SwarthmoreChristopher NewportWheaton (IL)Jack Flynn(Wisconsin–Oshkosh)2020Atlanta, GeorgiaAbandoned after second round due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Fort Wayne, Indiana Not held because insufficient number of Division III schools played a season because of pandemic. A bowl-game style championship was organised by top two teams in D3Sports.com polls Randolph–Macon defeated Trine, 69–55, on campus in Ashland, VA.2022 Randolph–Macon 75–45 ElmhurstMariettaWabashBuzz Anthony(Randolph–Macon)2023 Christopher Newport 74–72 Mount UnionWisconsin–WhitewaterSwarthmoreTrey Barber(Christopher Newport)2024 Trine 69–61 Hampden–SydneyGuilfordTrinity (CT)Cortez Garland(Trine)2025 Trinity (CT) 64–60 NYUWesleyan (CT)Washington–St. LouisHenry Vetter(Trinity (CT))2026Indianapolis, Indiana Mary Washington 75–73 EmoryChristopher NewportTrinity (CT)Kye Robinson (Mary Washington)2027 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2028
Source: Notes
Locations Reading, Pennsylvania 1975–1976 Rock Island, Illinois 1977–1981 Grand Rapids, Michigan 1982–1988 Springfield, Ohio 1989–1992 Buffalo, New York 1993–1995 Salem, Virginia 1996-2018 (semifinals only in 2013) Atlanta 2013 (championship game only) Fort Wayne, Indiana 2019, 2022–2026 (semifinals only in 2026) Indianapolis 2026 (championship game only) Pittsburgh 2027–2028
Championships, by team
Active programs Team Titles Years 5 1978, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1987 4 2004, 2005, 2010, 2015 1984, 1989, 2012, 2014 1991, 1995, 1998, 1999 2 2007, 2013 1992, 2000 1976, 1983 1981, 1986 2008, 2009 1 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2019 2018 2017 2006 2003 2002 2001 1997 1996 1994 1993 1990 1988 1982 1977
Former programs Team Titles Years 2 2011, 2016 1 1975
Programs with at least 20 appearances in the Division III tournament
List below only includes teams that are currently in Division III. Bids School Conference First Bid Most Recent 31 Michigan 1982 2026 30 North Coast 1975 2020 29 Coast to Coast 1986 2026 29 Landmark 1975 2023 29 North Coast 1978 2020 28 CCIW 1984 2026 27 Centennial 1975 2026 27 UAA 1987 2026 25 MASCAC 1980 2019 24 Michigan 1980 2025 23 Wisconsin 1983 2026 22 Old Dominion 1990 2026 21 NESCAC 1994 2026 20 CCS 1991 201920 NJAC19872025 20 NESCAC 1994 2024
Notes