The 1978 Tournament

All-Tournament Team
 Michael Harper, North Park 
Dennis James, Widener 
John Nibert, Albion 
Earl Keith, Stony Brook 
Tom Florentine, North Park

An outstanding 67 percent shooting performance in the first half boosted North Park to a 35-24 lead over Widener, and North Park went on to a 69-57 win to take the 1978 NCAA Division III title in its first appearance in the tourney. Widener's pre-game strategy to keep the ball away from North Park's 6-9 center, Michael Harper, was successful but Viking guards Tom Florentine and Michael Thomas hit 14 of 21 shots to pick up the slack. In the second half, Harper came alive to score 11 points. He scored four quick baskets early in the half to boost North Park's lead to 46-30 with 14 minutes left. After that, Widener could get no closer than 12 points. Harper finished the game with 17 points and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Results

Regionals
Northeast (at Waltham, Mass.): Boston State 93, Suffolk 90; Brandeis 79, Clark 77; Third place-Clark (Mass.) 89, Suffolk 87; Championship-Brandeis 69, Boston State 68.
East (at Stony Brook, N.Y.): Stony Brook State 68, Potsdam State 62; St. Lawrence 65, Manhattanville 62; Third place-Potsdam State 64, Manhattanville 60; Championship-Stony Brook 40, St. Lawrence 34.
Middle Atlantic (at Scranton, Pa.): Widener 47, Upsala 39; Slippery Rock State 70, Scranton 65; Third place-Scranton 84, Upsala 77; Championship-Widener 63, Slippery Rock State 60 (OT).
South Atlantic (at Union, N.J.): Kean 83, Virginia Wesleyan 75; Washington & Lee 66, Jersey City State 65; Third place-Jersey City State 105, Virginia Wesleyan 100; Championship-Kean 80, Washington & Lee 64.
Great Lakes (at Terre Haute, Ind.): Albion 72, Otterbein 67; Bethany 70, Rose-Hulman 68; Third Place-Otterbein 98, Rose-Hulman 81; Championship-Albion 91, Bethany 74.
South (at Lexington, Ky.): Wooster 84, DePauw 74; Knoxville 86, Transylvania 67; Third place-Transylvania 96, DePauw 79; Championship-Knoxville 84, Wooster 76.
Midwest (at Pella, Iowa): North Park 78, Ripon 68; Minnesota-Morris 62, Central (Iowa) 59; Third place-Central (Iowa) 81, Ripon 66; Championship-North Park 65, Minnesota-Morris 62.
West (at Arcata, Cal.): Championship-Humboldt State 69, Ashland 68.

Quarterfinals
At Waltham, Mass.; Stony Brook 98, Brandeis 84
At Chester, Pa.; Widener 55, Kean 49
At Albion, Mich.; Albion 78, Knoxville 77
At Arcata, Cal.; North Park 79, Humboldt State 77 (OT)

National Championship
At Rock Island, Ill.
Semifinals
Widener 48, Stony Brook 38
North Park 75, Albion 69

Third Place
Albion 87, Stony Brook 78

Championship
North Park 69, Widener 57