1979 NCAA Division II basketball tournament

The 1979 NCAA Division II basketball tournament involved 32 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball as a culmination of the 1978–79 NCAA Division II men's basketball season. It was won by the University of North Alabama and North Alabama's Perry Oden was the Most Outstanding Player.

Regional participants
* denotes tie

Great Lakes - Fairborn, Ohio
Location: Physical Education Building Host: Wright State University


 * Third Place - Eastern Illinois 65, Northern Michigan 58

New England - Waltham, Massachusetts
Location: Dana Center Host: Bentley College


 * Third Place - Bentley 104, Quinnipiac 93

South Central - Kirksville, Missouri
Location: Pershing Arena Host: Northeast Missouri State University


 * Third Place - SE Missouri State 86, NE Missouri State 82

South - Lakeland, Florida
Location: Jenkins Fieldhouse Host: Florida Southern College


 * Third Place - Tuskegee 107, Florida Southern 102

West - Tacoma, Washington
Location: Memorial Fieldhouse Host: University of Puget Sound


 * Third Place - San Diego 74, Cal State Northridge 69*

Central - Omaha, Nebraska
Location: UNO Fieldhouse Host: University of Nebraska at Omaha


 * Third Place - Nebraska-Omaha 86, North Dakota 75

East - Oneonta, New York
Location: Binder Physical Education Center Host: Hartwick College


 * Third Place - Albany State 72, Philadelphia U 61

South Atlantic - Catonsville, Maryland
Location: UMBC Fieldhouse Host: University of Maryland, Baltimore County


 * Third Place - Mount St. Mary's 93, Roanoke 89

* denotes each overtime played

National Finals - Springfield, Missouri
Location: Hammons Center Host: Southwest Missouri State University


 * Third Place - Cheyney 81, Bridgeport 78

* denotes each overtime played

All-tournament team

 * Ron Darby (North Alabama)
 * Carlton Hurdle (Bridgeport)
 * Rory Lindgren (Wisconsin-Green Bay)
 * Perry Oden (North Alabama)
 * Ron Ripley (Wisconsin-Green Bay)