1990 MAC men's basketball tournament


The 1990 MAC men's basketball tournament took place March 9–11, 1990, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Ball State defeated Central Michigan, 78–56 in the championship game, to win its second straight (4th overall) MAC Tournament title.

1990 MAC men's basketball tournament
ClassificationDivision I
Season1989–90
Teams8
SiteCobo Arena
Detroit, Michigan
ChampionsBall State (4th title)
Winning coachDick Hunsaker (1st title)
MVPBilly Butts (Ball State)
MAC men's basketball tournaments
← 1989
1991 →
1989–90 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Ball State 13 3   .813 26 7   .788
Kent State 12 4   .750 21 8   .724
Miami 9 7   .563 14 15   .483
Bowling Green 9 7   .563 18 11   .621
Eastern Michigan 8 8   .500 19 13   .594
Toledo 7 9   .438 12 16   .429
Central Michigan 6 10   .375 13 17   .433
Ohio 5 11   .313 12 16   .429
Western Michigan 3 13   .188 9 18   .333
1990 MAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The Cardinals earned the conference's automatic bid to the 1990 NCAA tournament as No. 12 seed in the West region. In the round of 64, Ball State defeated Oregon State, led by Gary Payton, 54–53. The Cardinals then knocked off Louisville, 62–60, to make the first Sweet Sixteen appearance in program history. Though their cinderella run would end, Ball State was up to the challenge, falling to No. 1 seed and eventual national champion UNLV by just two points, 69–67.

Format

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Eight of nine conference members participated, with Western Michigan left out of the competition due to their last place finish in the regular season standings.

Bracket

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Quarterfinals
March 9
Semifinals
March 10
Final
March 11
         
1 Ball State 77
8 Ohio 70
1 Ball State 69
5 Eastern Michigan 58
4 Bowling Green 60
5 Eastern Michigan 62
1 Ball State 78
7 Central Michigan 56
3 Miami (OH) 108
6 Toledo 80
3 Miami (OH) 76
7 Central Michigan 78
7 Central Michigan 82
2 Kent State 68

[1]

References

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  1. ^ "1989-90 Mid-American Conference Season Summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 20, 2021.