Emporia State went 22-9 and advanced to the final four of the NAIA Tournament in Kansas City, before falling to eventual national champion Rockhurst in the semifinals.  The Hornets had four players average in double figures led by Dennis Bolen's 17.4 points per game. ESU had defeated Rockhurst twice and national runner-up Pan-American once during the regular season.  The Hornets, who went 6-2 in the Central Intercollegiate Conference, won nine straight games after starting the season 13-7 to make it to Kansas City.