The 1963 NAIA men's basketball tournament was held March 11âÂÂ16 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 26th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format. This tournament did not feature any games going into overtime. This was the first tournament to feature a Leading Scorer, and Leading Rebounder awards. They were presented to Mel Gibson, Willis Reed and Lucious Jackson respectively. In the inaugural year of the Leading Scorer award, there was a tie. This would not happen again until 1981.
Awards and honors
- Leading scorers; tie: Mel Gibson, Western Carolina (N.C.) 5 games, 60 field goals 17 free throws 137 total points (27.4 average points per game) and Willis Reed, Grambling (La.) 5 games, 58 field goals, 21 free throws, 137 total points (27.4 average points per game)
- Leading rebounder: Lucious Jackson, Pan American (Texas), 5 games, 93 rebounds (18.6 rebounds per game)
- Player of the Year: est. 1994
- Most rebounds; career continues: 180, Lucious Jackson, Pan American (Texas), (1962,63,64)
- All-time leading scorer; second appearance: Lucious Jackson, 7th Pan American (Texas) (1962,63,64), 12 games, 117 field goals, 67 free throws, 301 total points, 25.0 average per game; Willis Reed, 16th Grambling (La.) (1961,63,64), 12 games 108 field goals 39 free throws 265 total points, 22.8 average per
- All-time leading scorer; final appearance: Hershell West, 15th Grambling (La.) (1960,61,63), 13 games, 116 field goals, 37 free throws, 269 total points, 20.7 average per game.
1963 NAIA bracket
Third-place game
The third-place game featured the losing teams from the national semifinalist to determine 3rd and 4th places in the tournament. This game was played until 1988.
See also
References