1997 SWAC men's basketball tournament

The 1997 SWAC men's basketball tournament was held March 6–8, 1997, at the Riverside Centroplex in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jackson State defeated Mississippi Valley State, 81–74 in the championship game. The Tigers received the conference's automatic bid to the 1997 NCAA tournament as No. 16 seed in the Southeast Region.

1997 SWAC men's basketball tournament
Classification	Division I
Season	1996–97
Teams	8
Site	Riverside Centroplex Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Champions	Jackson State (3rd title)
Winning coach	Andy Stoglin (2nd title)
SWAC men's basketball tournaments

1996–97 SWAC men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Mississippi Valley State	11	–	3		.786			19	–	10		.655
Jackson State †	9	–	5		.643			14	–	16		.467
Alcorn State	8	–	6		.571			11	–	17		.393
Prairie View A&M	7	–	7		.500			10	–	17		.370
Texas Southern	6	–	8		.429			12	–	16		.429
Grambling	5	–	9		.357			10	–	17		.370
Alabama State	5	–	9		.357			8	–	21		.276
Southern	5	–	9		.357			10	–	17		.370
† 1997 SWAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

Bracket and results

	Quarterfinals March 6					Semifinals March 7					Final March 8
	1	Mississippi Valley State	81
	8	Grambling State	54
						1	Mississippi Valley State	87
						5	Texas Southern	78
	4	Prairie View A&M	74
	5	Texas Southern	90
											1	Mississippi Valley State	74
											2	Jackson State	81
	3	Alcorn State	78
	6	Alabama State	72
						3	Alcorn State	68
						2	Jackson State	72
	2	Jackson State	82
	7	Southern	77