1996 MAC men's basketball tournament

The 1996 MAC men's basketball tournament, a part of the 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, took place at SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio. Its winner received the Mid-American Conference's automatic bid to the 1996 NCAA tournament. It was a single-elimination tournament with three rounds and the top eight MAC teams invited to participate. No teams received byes in the tournament. Eastern Michigan received the number one seed in the tournament.

1996 MAC men's basketball tournament
Classification	Division I
Season	1995–96
Teams	8
Site	SeaGate Centre Toledo, Ohio
Champions	Eastern Michigan (3rd title)
Winning coach	Ben Braun (3rd title)
MVP	Brian Tolbert (Eastern Michigan)
MAC men's basketball tournaments

1995–96 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Eastern Michigan †	14	–	4		.778			25	–	6		.806
Western Michigan	13	–	5		.722			15	–	12		.556
Miami	12	–	6		.667			21	–	8		.724
Ohio	11	–	7		.611			16	–	14		.533
Ball State	11	–	7		.611			16	–	12		.571
Bowling Green	9	–	9		.500			14	–	13		.519
Toledo	9	–	9		.500			18	–	14		.563
Kent State	8	–	10		.444			14	–	13		.519
Central Michigan	3	–	15		.167			6	–	20		.231
Akron	0	–	18		.000			3	–	23		.115
† 1996 MAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

Tournament

Seeds

1. Eastern Michigan
2. Western Michigan
3. Miami
4. Ohio
5. Ball State
6. Bowling Green
7. Toledo
8. Kent State

Bracket

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
	1	Eastern Michigan	84
	8	Kent State	72
						1	Eastern Michigan	87
						5	Ball State	71
	4	Ohio	80
	5	Ball State	86
											1	Eastern Michigan	77
											7	Toledo	63
	3	Miami	81
	6	Bowling Green	53
						3	Miami	55
						7	Toledo	75
	2	Western Michigan	65
	7	Toledo	71

* Overtime period