The inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball tournament was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, at Reynolds Coliseum from March 4âÂÂ6, 1954. defeated , 82âÂÂ80 in overtime, to win the championship. Dickie Hemric of Wake Forest was named tournament MVP.
NC State defeated all three of their in-state rivals on their way to the tournament championship, beating North Carolina in the quarterfinal round, Duke in the semifinal, and Wake Forest in the championship game.