The 1985–86 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by freshman point guard Pooh Richardson and finished in 4th place in the conference with a 15–14 record. The Bruins played for the second time ever in the NIT but lost the game to the UC Irvine Anteaters in the first round.