[1][2] Top-seeded Weber State defeated Montana in the championship game, 50–42, to clinch their third consecutive Big Sky tournament title.
Second-seeded Idaho made its inaugural appearance in the conference tournament, having been in last place in the previous five seasons.
Membership in the Big Sky remained at eight: Gonzaga left in the summer of 1979 for the WCAC and was replaced by Nevada–Reno.
Weber State received the automatic bid to the expanded 48-team NCAA tournament, and were seeded seventh in the West region.
In the first round at their home venue in Ogden, the Wildcats lost by a point to Lamar.