The 1996 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament was held March 7–9 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.
[1] Top-seeded host Montana State defeated defending champion Weber State in the championship game, 81–70, for their second Big Sky men's basketball tournament title.
Conference membership remained with the same eight teams, and no changes were made to the existing tournament format.
Montana State received the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament; no other Big Sky members were invited, or to the NIT.
Seeded thirteenth in the West regional, the Bobcats fell 88–55 to Syracuse in the first round in Albuquerque.