1986 MAC men's basketball tournament

The 1986 MAC men's basketball tournament was held March 6–8 at the Rockford MetroCentre in Rockford, Illinois. Third seeded Ball State defeated top-seeded 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 in the first round. Dan Palombizio Ball State was named the tournament MVP.

Format
Seven of the ten MAC teams participated. All games were played at the Rockford MetroCentre in Rockford, Illinois.