Record: 120-117, .506 W-L% (21st of 33) (Schedule and Results)
*Record does not reflect forfeits or vacated games.
SRS: -3.69 (21st of 33) ▪ SOS: -1.61 (19th of 33)
Regular Season Champion: Cleveland State
Tournament Champion: Cleveland State
NCAA Tournament: 1 (Cleveland State)
Ranked in Preseason AP Poll: 0
Ranked in Final AP Poll: 0
| Date | Visitor/Neutral | PTS | Home/Neutral | PTS | OT | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 9, 1986 | Valparaiso | 71 | Illinois-Chicago | 91 | ||
| Sat, Jan 11, 1986 | Cleveland State | 76 | Green Bay | 59 | ||
| Sat, Jan 11, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 67 | Northern Iowa | 66 | ||
| Sat, Jan 11, 1986 | Missouri State | 60 | Western Illinois | 61 | ||
| Mon, Jan 13, 1986 | Western Illinois | 68 | Eastern Illinois | 81 | ||
| Mon, Jan 13, 1986 | Valparaiso | 53 | Green Bay | 57 | ||
| Mon, Jan 13, 1986 | Cleveland State | 101 | Illinois-Chicago | 77 | ||
| Mon, Jan 13, 1986 | Missouri State | 73 | Northern Iowa | 65 | ||
| Thu, Jan 16, 1986 | Green Bay | 56 | Illinois-Chicago | 67 | ||
| Sat, Jan 18, 1986 | Northern Iowa | 88 | Cleveland State | 102 | ||
| Sat, Jan 18, 1986 | Green Bay | 52 | Eastern Illinois | 77 | ||
| Sat, Jan 18, 1986 | Western Illinois | 62 | Valparaiso | 56 | ||
| Mon, Jan 20, 1986 | Western Illinois | 53 | Cleveland State | 60 | ||
| Mon, Jan 20, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 72 | Missouri State | 74 | ||
| Mon, Jan 20, 1986 | Northern Iowa | 71 | Valparaiso | 70 | ||
| Wed, Jan 22, 1986 | Cleveland State | 112 | Eastern Illinois | 89 | ||
| Sat, Jan 25, 1986 | Valparaiso | 88 | Eastern Illinois | 80 | ||
| Sat, Jan 25, 1986 | Cleveland State | 61 | Missouri State | 65 | ||
| Sat, Jan 25, 1986 | Illinois-Chicago | 92 | Northern Iowa | 87 | ||
| Sat, Jan 25, 1986 | Green Bay | 54 | Western Illinois | 63 | ||
| Date | Visitor/Neutral | PTS | Home/Neutral | PTS | OT | Notes |
| Mon, Jan 27, 1986 | Valparaiso | 66 | Missouri State | 62 | ||
| Mon, Jan 27, 1986 | Green Bay | 61 | Northern Iowa | 69 | ||
| Mon, Jan 27, 1986 | Illinois-Chicago | 63 | Western Illinois | 68 | ||
| Thu, Jan 30, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 79 | Illinois-Chicago | 85 | ||
| Sat, Feb 1, 1986 | Valparaiso | 66 | Cleveland State | 91 | ||
| Sat, Feb 1, 1986 | Missouri State | 53 | Green Bay | 52 | ||
| Sat, Feb 1, 1986 | Western Illinois | 83 | Northern Iowa | 64 | ||
| Mon, Feb 3, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 59 | Green Bay | 58 | ||
| Mon, Feb 3, 1986 | Missouri State | 75 | Illinois-Chicago | 69 | ||
| Sat, Feb 8, 1986 | Green Bay | 64 | Cleveland State | 103 | ||
| Sat, Feb 8, 1986 | Northern Iowa | 52 | Eastern Illinois | 68 | ||
| Sat, Feb 8, 1986 | Western Illinois | 67 | Missouri State | 71 | ||
| Sat, Feb 8, 1986 | Illinois-Chicago | 70 | Valparaiso | 87 | ||
| Mon, Feb 10, 1986 | Northern Iowa | 69 | Missouri State | 76 | ||
| Mon, Feb 10, 1986 | Green Bay | 55 | Valparaiso | 62 | ||
| Mon, Feb 10, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 74 | Western Illinois | 68 | ||
| Wed, Feb 12, 1986 | Illinois-Chicago | 75 | Cleveland State | 113 | ||
| Sat, Feb 15, 1986 | Cleveland State | 80 | Northern Iowa | 65 | ||
| Sat, Feb 15, 1986 | Valparaiso | 62 | Western Illinois | 79 | ||
| Mon, Feb 17, 1986 | Missouri State | 67 | Eastern Illinois | 68 | ||
| Date | Visitor/Neutral | PTS | Home/Neutral | PTS | OT | Notes |
| Mon, Feb 17, 1986 | Illinois-Chicago | 60 | Green Bay | 58 | ||
| Mon, Feb 17, 1986 | Valparaiso | 58 | Northern Iowa | 79 | ||
| Mon, Feb 17, 1986 | Cleveland State | 76 | Western Illinois | 64 | ||
| Sat, Feb 22, 1986 | Missouri State | 67 | Cleveland State | 94 | ||
| Sat, Feb 22, 1986 | Western Illinois | 51 | Green Bay | 52 | ||
| Sat, Feb 22, 1986 | Northern Iowa | 73 | Illinois-Chicago | 90 | ||
| Sat, Feb 22, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 74 | Valparaiso | 75 | ||
| Mon, Feb 24, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 68 | Cleveland State | 76 | ||
| Mon, Feb 24, 1986 | Northern Iowa | 52 | Green Bay | 67 | ||
| Mon, Feb 24, 1986 | Western Illinois | 78 | Illinois-Chicago | 91 | ||
| Mon, Feb 24, 1986 | Missouri State | 62 | Valparaiso | 44 | ||
| Thu, Feb 27, 1986 | Illinois-Chicago | 59 | Missouri State | 68 | ||
| Thu, Feb 27, 1986 | Cleveland State | 72 | Valparaiso | 50 | ||
| Sat, Mar 1, 1986 | Illinois-Chicago | 70 | Eastern Illinois | 95 | ||
| Sat, Mar 1, 1986 | Green Bay | 46 | Missouri State | 71 | ||
| Sat, Mar 1, 1986 | Northern Iowa | 72 | Western Illinois | 74 | ||
| Thu, Mar 6, 1986 | Green Bay | 50 | Missouri State | 63 | SUML Quarterfinal | |
| Thu, Mar 6, 1986 | Cleveland State | 73 | Northern Iowa | 68 | SUML Quarterfinal | |
| Thu, Mar 6, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 85 | Valparaiso | 65 | SUML Quarterfinal | |
| Thu, Mar 6, 1986 | Illinois-Chicago | 71 | Western Illinois | 68 | SUML Quarterfinal | |
| Date | Visitor/Neutral | PTS | Home/Neutral | PTS | OT | Notes |
| Fri, Mar 7, 1986 | Cleveland State | 100 | Illinois-Chicago | 84 | SUML Semifinal | |
| Fri, Mar 7, 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 71 | Missouri State | 67 | SUML Semifinal | |
| Sat, Mar 8, 1986 | Cleveland State | 70 | Eastern Illinois | 66 | SUML Final |