The 1980 SWAC men's basketball tournament was held February 28–March 2, 1980. The quarterfinal round was held at the home arena of the higher-seeded team, while the semifinal and championship rounds were held at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi. Alcorn State defeated Jackson State, 83–61 in the championship game. The Braves received the conference's automatic bid to the 1980 NCAA tournament as No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region.