The 1986 MAC men's basketball tournament was held March 6–8 at the Rockford MetroCentre in Rockford, Illinois.
[1] Third seeded Ball State defeated top-seeded Miami in the championship game by the score of 87–79 to win their second MAC men's basketball tournament and a bid to the NCAA tournament.
There they lost to Memphis State in the first round.
[2][3] Dan Palombizio Ball State was named the tournament MVP.
[4] Seven of the ten MAC teams participated.