1997 MAC men's basketball tournament

1996–97 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Bowling Green	13	–	5		.722			22	–	10		.688
Miami†	13	–	5		.722			21	–	9		.700
Ohio	12	–	6		.667			17	–	10		.630
Eastern Michigan	11	–	7		.611			22	–	10		.688
Ball State	9	–	9		.500			16	–	13		.552
Western Michigan	9	–	9		.500			14	–	14		.500
Kent State	7	–	11		.389			9	–	18		.333
Toledo	6	–	12		.333			13	–	14		.481
Akron	6	–	12		.333			8	–	18		.308
Central Michigan	4	–	14		.222			7	–	19		.269
† Mid-American Conference Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 MAC men's basketball tournament, a part of the 1996–97 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 1997 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. Bowling Green received the number one seed in the tournament.

Tournament

Seeds

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

Bracket

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
	1	Bowling Green	94
	8	Toledo	69
						1	Bowling Green	64
						4	Eastern Michigan	73
	4	Eastern Michigan	85
	5	Ball State	75
											4	Eastern Michigan	76
											2	Miami	96
	3	Ohio	68
	6	Western Michigan	74
						6	Western Michigan	67
						2	Miami	84
	2	Miami	75
	7	Kent State	65

* Overtime period