The 1981 Midwestern City Conference men's basketball tournament (now known as the Horizon League men's basketball tournament) was held March 3–5 at campus sites (quarterfinals), Frederickson Fieldhouse in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (semifinals), and Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio (finals). Oklahoma City defeated Xavier in the championship game, 82–76, to win their first MCC/Horizon League men's basketball tournament. The Chiefs, however, did not receive a bid to the 1981 NCAA tournament.