The 1986 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament was held March 4–6, 1986 with quarterfinal matchups being held at the home arena of the higher seed and the semifinals and championship game played at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, Louisiana.
[1] Northeast Louisiana defeated McNeese State in the championship game, 59–57, to win their first Southland men's basketball tournament.
McNeese, Lamar, and Louisiana Tech received invitations to the 1986 NIT Tournament.
First round games were played at the home court of the higher-seeded team.
All remaining games were played at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, Louisiana.