The 1981 MAC men's basketball tournament was held March 3–5 at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ball State defeated in the championship game by the score of 79–66 to win their first MAC men's basketball tournament and a bid to the NCAA tournament. There they lost to Boston College in the first round. Ray McCallum of Central Michigan was named the tournament MVP.
Format
Seven of the ten MAC teams participated. First Round games were played in the home arena of the higher seeded team. The semi-finals and final were played at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan.