1981 NCAA Division II basketball tournament

The 1981 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 1980–81 NCAA Division II men's basketball season. It was won by Florida Southern College and Florida Southern's John Ebeling was the Most Outstanding Player.

Regional participants
* denotes tie

South Atlantic - Emmitsburg, Maryland
Location: Memorial Gym Host: Mount Saint Mary's College and Seminary


 * Third Place - Cheyney 76, Randolph-Macon 67

Great Lakes - Macomb, Illinois
Location: Western Hall Host: Western Illinois University


 * Third Place - Wright State 96, Indiana State–Evansville 89

North Central - Green Bay, Wisconsin
Location: Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena Host: University of Wisconsin at Green Bay


 * Third Place - North Dakota State 95, Central Missouri State 87

South Central - Florence, Alabama
Location: Flowers Hall Host: University of North Alabama


 * Third Place - Jacksonville State 84, Lincoln 66

West - Billings, Montana
Location: Alterowitz Gym Host: Eastern Montana College


 * Third Place - Eastern Montana 54, Chico State 49

South - Orlando, Florida
Location: UCF Fieldhouse Host: University of Central Florida


 * Third Place - West Georgia 102, Morehouse 76

East - West Long Branch, New Jersey
Location: William T. Boylan Gymnasium Host: Monmouth College


 * Third Place - Monmouth 79, Bloomsburg 64

New England - Manchester, New Hampshire
Location: NHC Fieldhouse Host: New Hampshire College


 * Third Place - Stonehill 79, Springfield 78

* denotes each overtime played

National Finals - Springfield, Massachusetts
Location: Springfield Civic Center Hosts: American International College and Springfield College


 * Third Place - Cal Poly 62, Green Bay 61**

* denotes each overtime played

All-tournament team

 * Jay Bruchak (Mount Saint Mary's)
 * John Ebeling (Florida Southern)
 * Mike Hayes (Florida Southern)
 * Durelle Lewis (Mount Saint Mary's)
 * Jim Rowe (Mount Saint Mary's)