The 1986 AMCU-8 men's basketball tournament was held March 6–8, 1986, at the John Q. Hammons Student Center at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
[1] Cleveland State defeated Eastern Illinois in the title game, 70–66, to win their first AMCU/Summit League championship.
The AMCU-8 did not receive an automatic bid to the 1986 Tournament.
However, the Vikings earned an at-large bid and made a run to the Sweet Sixteen.
First round seedings were based on regular season record.