1956 NAIA basketball tournament
| Season | 1955–56 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 32 | ||||
| Finals site | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri | ||||
| Champions | McNeese State (1st title, 1st title game, 1st Final Four) | ||||
| Runner-up | Texas Southern (1st title game, 1st Final Four) | ||||
| Semifinalists |
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| Coach of the year | John Lance (Pittsburg State) | ||||
| MVP | Bill Reigel (McNeese State) | ||||
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The 1956 NAIA basketball tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 19th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format. 1956 would be the last tournament with unseeded teams.
The championship game featured McNeese State University and Texas Southern University. It was the first and only appearance for the McNeese State made in the NAIA tournament. The Cowboys beat the Tigers, 60–55.
The third-place game featured Pittsburg State who defeated the Wheaton Thunder, 77–70. This tournament featured six all-time leading scorers.