What Is 2013 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2013 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament was held from March 12–16, 2013, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Akron won the championship, defeating Toledo 66–65 to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Key Facts

The tournament took place from March 12–16, 2013
Akron defeated Toledo 66–65 in the final
Akron earned the MAC's automatic NCAA Tournament bid
Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland hosted the event
Toledo entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed

Overview

The 2013 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Men's Basketball Tournament determined the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. Held annually, the event features the top eight teams from the MAC based on regular-season performance, with seeding determined by conference records.

This single-elimination tournament culminated in a dramatic final between Akron and Toledo. The championship game delivered one of the closest finishes in MAC Tournament history, highlighting the competitive balance within the conference.

Akron entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed from the East Division after finishing with a 13–5 conference record.
Toledo, the No. 1 seed overall, secured its spot by winning the West Division with a 14–4 conference mark.
The tournament was held at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, a neutral site that has hosted the event since 2000.
All games from the quarterfinals onward were played between March 12 and March 16, 2013, spanning five days.
Akron won the championship 66–65, capturing its third MAC Tournament title and securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

How It Works

The MAC Men's Basketball Tournament follows a structured format designed to reward regular-season performance while offering all eight qualifying teams a path to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament uses a single-elimination bracket with seeding based on division standings and overall conference records.

Format: The tournament includes the top eight teams from the MAC, split between East and West divisions. The bracket is seeded 1 through 8 regardless of division.
Seeding: Teams are seeded by conference record, with tiebreakers including head-to-head results and division performance. The No. 1 seed receives a first-round bye.
Location: Since 2000, the tournament has been held at Quicken Loans Arena (now Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse) in Cleveland, ensuring a neutral and centralized venue.
Championship Game: The final is traditionally played on a Saturday in mid-March, just days before the NCAA Tournament selection show.
NCAA Bid: The winner receives the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, regardless of regular-season performance or rankings.
Overtime Rules: If a game is tied at the end of regulation, standard NCAA overtime periods (5 minutes each) are used until a winner is determined.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2013 MAC Tournament can be evaluated alongside recent editions to understand trends in competitiveness, attendance, and NCAA success.

Year	Champion	Score	Runner-Up	NCAA Result
2013	Akron	66–65	Toledo	Lost in First Round
2012	Ohio	64–63	Western Michigan	Lost in Second Round
2011	Ohio	65–56	Florida Atlantic	Lost in First Round
2010	Northern Illinois	67–66	Ohio	Lost in First Round
2009	Ball State	58–57	Buffalo	Lost in First Round

The table illustrates that MAC champions often face early exits in the NCAA Tournament, but the conference has produced several close games and competitive matchups. The 2013 final was particularly tense, with Akron holding off Toledo by a single point. This trend of narrow margins underscores the parity in the conference and the value of securing the automatic bid.

Why It Matters

The 2013 MAC Tournament was significant not only for crowning a champion but also for showcasing the conference's depth and the high stakes of postseason play. For smaller programs, winning the tournament is often the only path to national exposure and NCAA Tournament participation.

Akron's victory marked its third MAC Tournament title, reinforcing its status as a dominant program in the conference during the early 2010s.
The 66–65 final score highlighted the intensity and competitiveness typical of MAC postseason games.
Winning the tournament guaranteed an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, bypassing the need for at-large consideration.
For Toledo, the narrow loss was especially painful, as the team had won the most games in program history that season.
The game drew strong attendance and regional TV coverage, boosting visibility for MAC basketball on a national scale.
Coaches and players viewed the tournament as a career-defining opportunity, especially for those aiming to advance to professional leagues.

The 2013 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament remains a memorable chapter in conference history, combining drama, athletic excellence, and the high stakes of March Madness qualification. It exemplifies how postseason tournaments can elevate teams and create lasting legacies.