The 1981 Tournament

All-Tournament Team
Max Artis, Augustana
Bill Rapier, Augustana
Ed Jachim, Potsdam State
Derrick Rowland, Potsdam State
Ron Stewart, Otterbein

Potsdam State won its first title at the 1981  Championship, defeating local favorite Augustana (Ill.) 67-65 in Rock Island, Illinois. Potsdam State converted several crucial free throws in overtime to defeat the Vikings. Actually, Potsdam State was fortunate to even be playing an overtime period. The Bears' Leroy Witherspoon hit a 45-foot desperation shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. After trailing the entire first half, Augustana scored 10 straight points early in the second half to take a 48-42 lead. The Vikings held the lead until 3:23 remained when Maurice Woods hit a 10-foot shot to give Potsdam State a 55-54 lead. Potsdam State, which finished the season 30-2, defeated Ursinus 63-61 in one semifinal game, while Augustana (26-6) advanced to the championship by defeating Otterbein 93-81. Otterbein's Ron Stewart was the tournament's scoring leader with 119 points, a 23.8 average for five games.

Regionals
Northeast (at Worcester, Mass.): Clark (Mass.) 109, Boston State 69; Rochester 75, Salem State 62; Third place-Salem State 91, Boston State 90; Championship-Clark (Mass.) 78, Rochester 74.
East (at Potsdam, N.Y.): Potsdam State 80, Staten Island 57; Albany State 45, St. Lawrence 44; Third place-St. Lawrence 62, Staten Island 60; Championship-Potsdam State 68, Albany State 63 (OT).
Middle Atlantic (at Lancaster, Pa.): Ursinus 69, Franklin & Marshall 58; William Paterson 87, Scranton 70; Third place-Franklin & Marshall 73, Scranton 68; Championship-Ursinus 66, William Paterson 64.
South Atlantic (at East Orange, N.J.): Upsala 73, Allegheny 66; Montclair State 57, Roanoke 55; Third place-Roanoke 84, Allegheny 75; Championship-Upsala 86, Montclair State 64.
Midwest (at Beloit, Wis.): Beloit 68, William Penn 58; Augustana (Ill.) 81, North Park 68; Third place-William Penn 85, North Park 81; Championship-Augustana (Ill.) 56, Beloit 53.
West (at Whittier, Cal.): Whittier 103, Stanislaus State 95; Muskingum 75, Dubuque 61; Third place-Dubuque 86, Stanislaus State 63; Championship-Whittier 66, Muskingum 61 (OT).
Great Lakes (at Springfield, Ohio): Wittenberg 72, Calvin 50; Otterbein 81, Wabash 69; Third place-Wabash 93, Calvin 71; Championship-Otterbein 72, Wittenberg 68.
South (at Savannah, Ga.): Savannah State 76, Rose-Hulman 62; Southwestern (Tenn.) 72, St. Andrews 70; Third place-St. Andrews 84, Rose-Hulman 80; Championship-Savannah State 76, Southwestern 75.

Quarterfinals
At Potsdam, N.Y. Potsdam State 87, Clark (Mass.) 81
At East Orange, N.J. Ursinus 71, Upsala 69
At Rock Island, Ill. Augustana (Ill.) 69, Whittier 67
At Savannah, Ga. Otterbein 67, Savannah State 64 (OT)

National Championship
At Rock Island, Ill.
Semifinals
Potsdam State 63, Ursinus 61
Augustana (Ill.) 93, Otterbein 81

Third Place
Ursinus 82, Otterbein 79

Championship
Potsdam State 67, Augustana 65 (OT)