1986 AMCU-8 men's basketball tournament

1986 AMCU-8 men's basketball tournament
Classification	Division I
Season	1985–86
Teams	8
Site	Hammons Student Center Springfield, Missouri
Champions	Cleveland State (1st title)
Winning coach	Kevin Mackey (1st title)
MVP	Kevin Duckworth (Eastern Illinois)
AMCU-8 men's basketball tournaments

1985–86 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Cleveland State †	13	–	1		.929			29	–	4		.879
Southwest Missouri State	10	–	4		.714			24	–	8		.750
Eastern Illinois	8	–	6		.571			19	–	13		.594
Western Illinois	7	–	7		.500			13	–	15		.464
UIC	7	–	7		.500			13	–	16		.448
Valparaiso	5	–	9		.357			9	–	19		.321
Green Bay	3	–	11		.214			5	–	23		.179
Northern Iowa	3	–	11		.214			8	–	19		.296
† 1986 AMCU-8 tournament winner

The 1986 AMCU-8 men's basketball tournament was held March 6–8, 1986, at the Hammons Student Center at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

Cleveland State defeated Eastern Illinois in the title game, 70–66, to win their first AMCU/Summit League championship. The AMCU-8 did not receive an automatic bid to the 1986 Tournament. However, the Vikings earned an at-large bid and made a run to the Sweet Sixteen.

Format

All eight conference members qualified for the tournament. First round seedings were based on regular season record.

Bracket

	Quarterfinals Thursday, March 6					Semifinals Friday, March 7					Finals Saturday, March 8
	1	Cleveland State	73
	8	Northern Iowa	68
						1	Cleveland State	100
						5	UIC	84
	5	UIC	71
	4	Western Illinois	68
											1	Cleveland State	70
											3	Eastern Illinois	66
	3	Eastern Illinois	85
	6	Valparaiso	65
						3	Eastern Illinois	71
						2	Southwest Missouri State	67
	7	Green Bay	50
	2	Southwest Missouri State	63