| Year: | 1986 |
| Conference: | MAC |
| Division: | I |
| Gender: | Men's |
| Teams: | 7 |
| Finalarena: | Rockford MetroCentre |
| Finalcity: | Rockford, IL |
| Champions: | Ball State |
| Titlecount: | 2nd |
| Coach: | Al Brown |
| Coachcount: | 1st |
| Mvp: | Dan Palombizio |
| Mvpteam: | Ball State |
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 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.[2] [3] Dan Palombizio Ball State was named the tournament MVP.[4]
Seven of the ten MAC teams participated. All games were played at the Rockford MetroCentre in Rockford, Illinois.