What Is 1986 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1986 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament was held from March 7–9, 1986, at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where No. 1 seed La Salle defeated No. 2 seed Fordham 74–62 in the championship game to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

Key Facts

The tournament took place from March 7–9, 1986
Games were held at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, NJ
La Salle won the championship with a 74–62 victory over Fordham
La Salle entered as the No. 1 seed with a 12–2 conference record
The winner received an automatic bid to the 1986 NCAA Tournament

Overview

The 1986 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament marked the fifth edition of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference postseason championship, determining which team would represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament. Held from March 7 to March 9, 1986, the event featured the top six teams from the regular season standings competing in a single-elimination format.

La Salle University emerged as champions, defeating Fordham University in the final with a 74–62 victory at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This win secured La Salle the conference's automatic bid to the 1986 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, where they were eliminated in the first round by North Carolina.

Championship Date: The final game occurred on March 9, 1986, concluding a three-day tournament schedule that began with quarterfinal matchups on March 7.
Location: All games were hosted at the Meadowlands Arena, home of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, providing a neutral, high-capacity venue for the event.
Seeding: La Salle entered as the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season with a 12–2 conference record, the best in the MAAC.
Runner-Up: Fordham, the No. 2 seed, reached the final with a 10–4 conference mark and had defeated Holy Cross in the semifinals.
Historical Context: This was the fifth MAAC tournament since the conference's founding in 1981, continuing its growth as a mid-major basketball league.

How It Works

The MAAC Tournament format in 1986 followed a single-elimination structure with six teams qualifying based on regular-season performance, ensuring competitive balance and high stakes for each game.

Format: The tournament used a single-elimination bracket with six teams, meaning one loss eliminated a team from contention and the championship hopefuls.
Qualification: The top six teams in the final MAAC regular-season standings qualified, with seeds determined by win-loss records within the conference.
Scheduling: Games were held over three days: March 7–9, with quarterfinals on Friday, semifinals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.
Venue Selection: The Meadowlands Arena was chosen as a centralized, neutral site to ensure fairness and maximize attendance from multiple fan bases.
NCAA Bid: The winner received the MAAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, a crucial opportunity for exposure and advancement in March Madness.
Championship MVP: Though not officially awarded in 1986, La Salle’s Leon Wood led all scorers in the final with 22 points, a key factor in their victory.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1986 MAAC Tournament with prior editions in terms of structure, participants, and outcomes.

Year	Champion	Runner-Up	Location	Championship Score
1982	Army	Canisius	West Point, NY	76–74
1983	Canisius	Saint Peter’s	Buffalo, NY	68–65
1984	La Salle	Army	West Point, NY	78–65
1985	Saint Peter’s	La Salle	East Rutherford, NJ	55–53
1986	La Salle	Fordham	East Rutherford, NJ	74–62

This table highlights La Salle’s resurgence in 1986 after losing the 1985 final to Saint Peter’s. The shift to the Meadowlands as a recurring venue signaled the MAAC’s intent to grow its postseason profile, while La Salle’s 74–62 win marked their second title in five years, establishing them as a conference powerhouse.

Why It Matters

The 1986 MAAC Tournament was significant not only for its immediate outcome but also for its long-term impact on conference identity and team legacies. It helped solidify the MAAC as a competitive mid-major conference capable of producing NCAA Tournament-caliber teams.

La Salle’s Legacy: Winning in 1986 gave La Salle two MAAC titles in five years, enhancing their national reputation and recruitment appeal.
Fordham’s Rise: As runner-up, Fordham achieved its best season in years, finishing 20–10 overall and boosting program visibility.
Neutral Site Success: The use of the Meadowlands proved effective, drawing over 10,000 fans for the final and setting a precedent for future tournaments.
NCAA Exposure: La Salle’s participation in the 1986 NCAA Tournament brought national TV exposure to the MAAC, benefiting all member schools.
Competitive Balance: Six teams qualified, showing the conference’s growing depth compared to earlier two-team formats in minor leagues.
Historical Benchmark: The 1986 event became a reference point for future MAAC tournaments, influencing format expansions and venue decisions.

Overall, the 1986 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament was a pivotal moment in the conference’s early history, showcasing competitive excellence and setting the stage for future growth in collegiate basketball.