| Year: | 1981 |
| Conference: | ECAC South |
| Division: | I |
| Gender: | Men's |
| Teams: | 6 |
| Arena: | Hampton Coliseum |
| City: | Hampton, VA |
| Champions: | James Madison |
| Titlecount: | 1st |
| Coach: | Lou Campanelli |
| Coachcount: | 1st |
| Mvp: | Charles Fisher |
| Mvpteam: | James Madison |
The 1981 ECAC South men's basketball tournament (now known as the Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball tournament) was held March 5–7 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia.[1]
James Madison defeated in the championship game, 69–60, to win their first ECAC South men's basketball tournament. The Dukes, therefore, earned an automatic bid to the 1981 NCAA tournament; this was JMU's first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament.