1997 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament

1997 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament
ClassificationDivision I
Season1996–97
Teams6
SiteHirsch Memorial Coliseum
Shreveport, Louisiana
ChampionsSouthwest Texas State Bobcats (2nd title)
Winning coachMike Miller (1st title)
MVPDameon Sansom (Southwest Texas State)
1996–97 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
McNeese State 10 6   .625 18 12   .600
Southwest Texas State 10 6   .625 16 13   .552
Northeast Louisiana 10 6   .625 14 14   .500
Northwestern State 8 8   .500 13 15   .464
Stephen F. Austin 8 8   .500 12 15   .444
Texas-Arlington 8 8   .500 12 15   .444
Nicholls State 7 9   .438 10 16   .385
Sam Houston State 7 9   .438 8 18   .308
UTSA 4 12   .250 9 17   .346
1997 Southland tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament was held March 6–8 at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Southwest Texas State defeated Louisiana-Monroe in the championship game, 74–64, to win their second Southland men's basketball tournament.

The Bobcats received a bid to the 1997 NCAA Tournament as the No. 16 seed in the Midwest region.