1981 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA Basketball Conference tournament
| Year = 1981
| Conference = Missouri Valley Conference
| Division = I
| Gender = Men's
| Image =
| ImageSize =
| Caption =
| Teams = 8
| Arena = Campus sites
| City =
| FinalArena = Levitt Arena
| FinalCity = Wichita, Kansas
| Champions = Creighton
| TitleCount = 2nd
| Coach = Tom Apke
| CoachCount = 2nd
| MVP =
| MVPTeam =
| Attendance =
| OneTopScorer =
| TwoTopScorers =
| TopScorer =
| TopScorerTeam =
| TopScorer2 =
| TopScorer2Team =
| Points =
| Television =
}}
{{1980–81 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1981 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament was played after the conclusion of the 1980–1981 regular season. The quarterfinal and semifinal rounds were played at campus sites, with the final contested at Levitt Arena on the campus of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.
The Creighton defeated the Wichita State Shockers in the championship game, 70–64, and as a result won their 2nd MVC Tournament title and earned an automatic bid to the 1981 NCAA tournament.
Bracket
{{8TeamBracket
| RD1= Quarterfinals
March 5, 1981
Campus Sites
| RD2= Semifinals
March 6, 1981
Campus Sites
| RD3= Final
March 7, 1981
Levitt Arena
| RD1-seed1=1
| RD1-team1=Wichita State *
| RD1-score1=77
| RD1-seed2=8
| RD1-team2={{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Southern Illinois Salukis|title=Southern Illinois}}
| RD1-score2=57
| RD1-seed3=4
| RD1-team3={{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Drake Bulldogs|title=Drake}} *
| RD1-score3=89
| RD1-seed4=5
| RD1-team4={{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Bradley Braves|title=Bradley}}
| RD1-score4=84
| RD1-seed5=2
| RD1-team5=Creighton *
| RD1-score5=64
| RD1-seed6=7
| RD1-team6={{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Indiana State Sycamores|title=Indiana State}}
| RD1-score6=61
| RD1-seed7=3
| RD1-team7={{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Tulsa Golden Hurricane|title=Tulsa}} *
| RD1-score7=68
| RD1-seed8=6
| RD1-team8={{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=New Mexico State Aggies|title=New Mexico State}}
| RD1-score8=67
| RD2-seed1=1
| RD2-team1=Wichita State *
| RD2-score1=88
| RD2-seed2=4
| RD2-team2=Drake
| RD2-score2=74
| RD2-seed3=2
| RD2-team3=Creighton *
| RD2-score3=66
| RD2-seed4=3
| RD2-team4=Tulsa
| RD2-score4=64
| RD3-seed1=1
| RD3-team1=Wichita State *
| RD3-score1=64
| RD3-seed2=2
| RD3-team2=Creighton
| RD3-score2=70
}}
Note: * indicates host institution
{{cite web|title=1980-81 Missouri Valley Conference Season Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/mvc/1981.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=July 30, 2019}}
{{cite web|title=2018-19 Men's Basketball Media Guide |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/mvc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2018/10/12/2018_19_MVC_MBB_Guide.pdf |website=Missouri Valley Conference |access-date=July 30, 2019}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament navbox}}
{{1981 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament navbox}}
Category:1980–81 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball season
Category:Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament