| Division: | II |
| Year: | 1979 |
| Teams: | 32 |
| Finalfourcity: | Springfield, Missouri |
| Champions: | North Alabama Lions |
| Titlecount: | 1st |
| Runnerup: | Green Bay Phoenix |
| Gamecount: | 2nd |
| Semifinal1: | Cheyney (PA) Wolves |
| Finalfourcount: | 2nd |
| Semifinal2: | Bridgeport Knights |
| Finalfourcount2: | 1st |
| Coach: | Bill Jones |
| Coachcount: | 1st |
| Mop: | Perry Oden |
| Mopteam: | North Alabama |
| Attendance: | 47,907 |
The 1979 NCAA Division II basketball tournament involved 32 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball as a culmination of the 1978–79 NCAA Division II men's basketball season. It was won by the University of North Alabama and North Alabama's Perry Oden was the Most Outstanding Player.
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Illinois | Third Place | |
| Northern Michigan | Fourth Place | |
| St. Joseph's (IN) | Regional Champion | |
| Wright State | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Assumption | Runner-up | |
| Bentley | Third Place | |
| Bridgeport | Regional Champion | |
| Quinnipiac | Fourth Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholls State | Regional Champion | |
| Rollins | Runner-up | |
| SE Missouri State | Third Place | |
| NE Missouri State | Fourth Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Southern | Fourth Place | |
| North Alabama | Regional Champion | |
| Tuskegee | Third Place | |
| Valdosta State | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Cal State Northridge | Fourth Place | |
| Puget Sound | Regional Champion | |
| San Diego | Third Place | |
| UC Riverside | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | Regional Champion | |
| Nebraska-Omaha | Third Place | |
| North Dakota | Fourth Place | |
| Northern Iowa | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Albany State | Third Place | |
| Cheyney | Regional Champion | |
| Hartwick | Runner-up | |
| Philadelphia U | Fourth Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Mount St. Mary's | Third Place | |
| Roanoke | Fourth Place | |
| UMBC | Regional Champion | |
| Virginia Union | Runner-up | |
*denotes tie
Location: Physical Education Building Host: Wright State University
Location: Dana Center Host: Bentley College
Location: Pershing Arena Host: Northeast Missouri State University
Location: Jenkins Fieldhouse Host: Florida Southern College
Location: Memorial Fieldhouse Host: University of Puget Sound
Location: UNO Fieldhouse Host: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Location: Binder Physical Education Center Host: Hartwick College
Location: UMBC Fieldhouse Host: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
*denotes each overtime played
Location: Hammons Center Host: Southwest Missouri State University
*denotes each overtime played