| Division: | II |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Gender: | Men's |
| Teams: | 32 |
| Finalfourcity: | Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Champions: | Lowell Chiefs |
| Titlecount: | 1st |
| Runnerup: | Alaska–Anchorage Seawolves |
| Gamecount: | 1st |
| Semifinal1: | Florida Southern Moccasins |
| Finalfourcount: | 5th |
| Semifinal2: | Troy State Trojans |
| Finalfourcount2: | 1st |
| Coach: | Don Doucette |
| Coachcount: | 1st |
| Mop: | Leo Parent |
| Mopteam: | Lowell |
| Attendance: | 56,123 |
The 1988 NCAA Division II men's 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 1987–88 NCAA Division II men's basketball season. It was won by the University of Lowell (now the University of Massachusetts Lowell), and Lowell's Leo Parent was the Most Outstanding Player.
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Assumption | Fourth Place | |
| Lowell | Regional Champion | |
| New Haven | Runner-up | |
| Quinnipiac | Third Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama A&M | Regional Champion | |
| Ashland | Fourth Place | |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Runner-up | |
| Lewis | Third Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Southern | Regional Champion | |
| Norfolk State | Fourth Place | |
| North Alabama | Third Place | |
| Tampa | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Angelo State | Fourth Place | |
| Missouri–St. Louis | Runner-up | |
| South Dakota State | Third Place | |
| SE Missouri State | Regional Champion | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Augustana (SD) | Fourth Place | |
| Ferris State | Regional Champion | |
| St. Cloud State | Third Place | |
| UC Riverside | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska–Anchorage | Regional Champion | |
| Cal State Bakersfield | Third Place | |
| Cal State Hayward | Runner-up | |
| Sacramento State | Fourth Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Central | Runner-up | |
| Troy State | Regional Champion | |
| Virginia State | Fourth Place | |
| Virginia Union | Third Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| California (PA) | Runner-up | |
| Gannon | Regional Champion | |
| Kutztown | Fourth Place | |
| Le Moyne | Third Place | |
*denotes tie
Location: Charger Gymnasium Host: University of New Haven
Location: Owensboro Sportscenter Host: Kentucky Wesleyan College
Location: Jenkins Field House Host: Florida Southern College
Location: Show Me Center Host: Southeast Missouri State University
Location: Halenbeck Hall Host: St. Cloud State University
Location: Physical Education Complex Host: California State University, Hayward
Location: Arthur Ashe, Jr. Athletic Center Host: Virginia Union University
Location: Hammermill Center Host: Gannon University
*denotes each overtime played
Location: Springfield Civic Center Hosts: American International College and Springfield College
*denotes each overtime played