Oklahoma City competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA's) Division I for many years, and the program was especially noted for its success under coaches Doyle Parrack (1950–1955) and his successor Abe Lemons (1955–1973 and 1984–1990).

[4] OCU appeared in eleven NCAA Division I men's basketball tournaments.

In 1985, the school moved from the NCAA to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), citing as reasons for the move the number of sports the NCAA required at member schools, the MCC's insistence that teams host their games in arenas with seating capacities greater than 7,500, and the concerns of other MCC members that OCU lacked geographic proximity to their institutions.

Their record in tournaments was 8–13, giving them the second most wins (after New York University) among teams no longer in Division I.

The Chiefs went on to become one of the highest-scoring teams in the United States, scoring over 100 points a game on many occasions.