After falling in the national championship game in 1979 and the quarterfinals in 1980, Potsdam State broke through in 1981, beating Augustana on its home floor in overtime. Potsdam was fortunate to even make overtime, as Leroy Witherspoon hit a 45-footer at the buzzer to force the extra period. After trailing the entire first half, Augustana scored 10 unanswered points to take a 48-42 lead. The Vikings held the lead until the 3:23 mark of the second half, when a Maurice Woods jumper put the Bears up 55-54. 

Championship
Potsdam State 67, Augustana 65 (OT)
at Rock Island, Ill. 

All-Tournament Team
Max Artis, Augustana (Most Outstanding Player)
Bill Rapier, Augustana
Ed Jachim, Potsdam State
Derrick Rowland, Potsdam State
Ron Stewart, Otterbein 

Third Place
Ursinus 82, Otterbein 79

National Semifinals
Potsdam State 63, Ursinus 61
Augustana 93, Otterbein 81

Quarterfinals
at Potsdam State 87, Clark (Mass.) 81
Ursinus 71, at Upsala 69
at Augustana 69, Whittier 67
Otterbein 67, at Savannah State 64 (OT)

Regional Championships
at Clark (Mass.) 78, Rochester 74
at Potsdam State 68, Albany 63 (OT)
Ursinus 66, William Paterson 64 (at Franklin and Marshall)
at Upsala 86, Montclair State 64
Augustana 56, at Beloit 53
at Whittier 66, Muskingum 61 (OT)
Otterbein 72, at Wittenberg 68
at Savannah State 76, Rhodes 75

Regional Third Place
Salem State 91, Massachusetts-Boston 90; St. Lawrence 62, Staten Island 60; Franklin & Marshall 73, Scranton 68; Roanoke 84, Allegheny 75; William Penn 85, North Park 81; Dubuque 86, Cal State Stanislaus 73; Wabash 93, Calvin 71; St. Andrews 84, Rose-Hulman 80

First Round
Clark (Mass.) 109, Massachusetts-Boston 69
Rochester 75, Salem State 62
Potsdam State 80, Staten Island 57
Albany 45, St. Lawrence 44
Ursinus 69, Franklin & Marshall 58
William Paterson 87, Scranton 70
Upsala 73, Allegheny 66
Montclair State 57, Roanoke 55
Beloit 68, William Penn 58
Augustana (Ill.) 81, North Park 68
Whittier 103, Cal State Stanislaus 95
Muskingum 75, Dubuque 61
Wittenberg 72, Calvin 50
Otterbein 81, Wabash 69
Savannah State 76, Rose-Hulman 62
Rhodes 72, St. Andrews 70