1986 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament

1986 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament
ClassificationDivision I
Season1985–86
Teams7
SiteLawlor Events Center
Reno, Nevada
ChampionsMontana State (1st title)
Winning coachStu Starner (1st title)
MVPTony Hampton (Montana State)
← 1985
1987 →
1985–86 Big Sky Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Northern Arizona 9 5   .643 19 10   .655
Montana 9 5   .643 21 11   .656
Idaho State 8 6   .571 15 12   .556
Weber State 7 7   .500 18 11   .621
Nevada 7 7   .500 13 15   .464
Montana State 6 8   .429 14 17   .452
Boise State 6 8   .429 12 16   .429
Idaho 4 10   .286 11 18   .379
1986 Big Sky tournament winner


The 1986 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament was held March 6–8 at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada.[1][2]

Sixth-seeded Montana State upset rival Montana in the championship game, 82–77, for their first Big Sky tournament title. The Bobcats upset host and defending champion Nevada by a point in the first round with a field goal at the buzzer,[3] then shocked regular season champion Northern Arizona by six in the semifinals.[4]

  1. ^ Devlin, Vince (March 6, 1986). "Even for Idaho, Sky's wide open". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C1.
  2. ^ "1985-86 Big Sky Conference Season Summary". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  3. ^ "Idaho loses Big Sky opener; Montana, Weber make semis". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 7, 1986. p. 22.
  4. ^ "Krystkowiak, Ferch set up all-Montana Big Sky final". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 7, 1986. p. 22.