The 1996 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament was held March 6–9 at the The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee. This was the first edition of the tournament. Top-seeded Cincinnati defeated Marquette in the inaugural championship game, 85–84, to clinch their first Conference USA men's tournament championship. The Bearcats, in turn, received an automatic bid to the 1995 NCAA Tournament. They were joined in the tournament by fellow C-USA members Louisville, Marquette, and Memphis, who all earned at-large bids.