| Division: | II |
| Year: | 1972 |
| Teams: | 36 |
| Finalfourcity: | Evansville, Indiana |
| Champions: | Roanoke Maroons |
| Titlecount: | 1st |
| Runnerup: | Akron Zips |
| Gamecount: | 2nd |
| Semifinal1: | Tennessee State Tigers |
| Finalfourcount: | 2nd |
| Semifinal2: | Eastern Michigan Hurons |
| Finalfourcount2: | 1st |
| Coach: | Charles Moir |
| Coachcount: | 1st |
| Mop: | Hal Johnston |
| Mopteam: | Roanoke |
| Attendance: | 17,450 |
The 1972 NCAA College Division basketball tournament involved 36 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA College Division college basketball as a culmination of the 1971-72 NCAA College Division men's basketball season. It was won by Roanoke, with Roanoke's Hal Johnston named the Most Outstanding Player.
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Assumption | Regional Champion | |
| Bentley | Runner-up | |
| Bridgeport | Third Place | |
| Sacred Heart | Fourth Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan | Regional Champion | |
| Evansville | Runner-up | |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Third Place | |
| Wittenberg | Fourth Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln (MO) | Runner-up | |
| Missouri–St. Louis | Regional Champion | |
| South Dakota | Third Place | |
| South Dakota State | Fifth Place | |
| St. Olaf | Fourth Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Southern | Third Place | |
| Mercer | Fourth Place | |
| Roanoke | Regional Champion | |
| St. Thomas (FL) | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama State | Fifth Place | |
| Delta State | Runner-up | |
| LSU–New Orleans | Third Place | |
| Tennessee State | Regional Champion | |
| Transylvania | Fourth Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo State | Fourth Place | |
| Hartford | Runner-up | |
| Ithaca | Third Place | |
| Southampton | Regional Champion | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Akron | Regional Champion | |
| Cheyney | Fourth Place | |
| Gannon | Fifth Place* | |
| Philadelphia U | Third Place | |
| Widener | Fifth Place* | |
| Youngstown State | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Pacific | Runner-up | |
| Southern Colorado | Regional Champion | |
| UC Irvine | Fourth Place | |
| UC Riverside | Third Place | |
*denotes tie
Location: Andrew Laska Gymnasium Host: Assumption College
Location: Roberts Municipal Stadium Host: University of Evansville
Location: Mark Twain Building Host: University of Missouri-Saint Louis
Location: Salem Civic Center Host: Roanoke College
Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum Host: Delta State University
Location: Southampton Gym Host: Southampton College
Location: Memorial Hall Host: University of Akron
Location: Massari Arena Host: Southern Colorado State College
*denotes each overtime played
Location: Roberts Municipal Stadium Host: University of Evansville
*denotes each overtime played
Most Outstanding Player: Hal Johnston (Roanoke)