1988 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament

The 1988 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament was played after the conclusion of the 1987–1988 regular season at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois.

1988 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament
Classification	Division I
Season	1987–88
Teams	8
Site	Carver Arena Peoria, Illinois
Champions	Bradley (2nd title)
Winning coach	Stan Albeck (1st title)
MVP	Hersey Hawkins (Bradley)
Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournaments

1987–88 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 11 Bradley †	12	–	2		.857			26	–	5		.839
Wichita State	11	–	3		.786			20	–	10		.667
Illinois State	9	–	5		.643			18	–	13		.581
Southern Illinois	6	–	8		.429			12	–	16		.429
Creighton	6	–	8		.429			16	–	16		.500
Drake	5	–	9		.357			14	–	14		.500
Tulsa	4	–	10		.286			8	–	20		.286
Indiana State	3	–	11		.214			7	–	21		.250
† 1988 MVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

The fourteenth ranked Bradley Braves defeated the Illinois State Redbirds in the championship game, 89-59, and won their 2nd MVC Tournament title and earned an automatic bid to the 1988 NCAA tournament.

Bracket

	Quarterfinals March 5, 1988					Semifinals March 6, 1988					Final March 7, 1988
	1	No. 14 Bradley	93
	8	Indiana State	74
						1	No. 14 Bradley	101
						5	Creighton	77
	4	Southern Illinois	87
	5	Creighton	89
											1	No. 14 Bradley	89
											3	Illinois State	59
	2	Wichita State	74
	7	Tulsa	66
						2	Wichita State	51
						3	Illinois State	59
	3	Illinois State	72
	6	Drake	60