The 1986 Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament was held March 6-8 at the Rockford MetroCentre in Rockford, Illinois. 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. Dan Palombizio Ball State was named the tournament MVP.