The 1952 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 15th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format. In 1952, the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) changes its name to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)The championship game featured Southwest Missouri State University, now Missouri State University, who defeated Murray State University by a score of 73 to 64. Finishing out the NAIA Final Four, and playing for the 3rd place game were Southwest Texas State, now Texas State University–San Marcos, and the University of Portland. The Bears of Southwest Missouri State defeated the Pilots of Portland by a score of 78 to 68.A not