American college basketball season
The 1985–86 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils basketball team represented Mississippi Valley State University during the 1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The Delta Devils, led by head coach Lafayette Stribling , played their home games at Harrison HPER Complex as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference . The Delta Devils finished the season 20–11, 10–4 in SWAC play to finish in 3rd pace. They won the SWAC Basketball tournament to earn the conference's automatic bid into the 1986 NCAA tournament – the first appearance in school history. As the No. 16 seed in the East Region, the Delta Devils played a tough game before falling to No. 1 overall seed and eventual National runner-up Duke in the opening round, 85–78.[ 1]
Roster
1985–86 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
[ 2]
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
Dec 19, 1985 *
at Ball State
L 63–73
2–3
Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana
Jan 6, 1986 *
at Missouri
L 67–81
3–4
Hearnes Center Columbia, Missouri
SWAC tournament
Mar 7, 1986 *
vs. Alabama State Quarterfinal
W 77–64
18–10
Mississippi Coliseum Biloxi, Mississippi
Mar 8, 1986 *
vs. Alcorn State Semifinals
W 71–70
19–10
Mississippi Coliseum Biloxi, Mississippi
Mar 9, 1986 *
vs. Prairie View Championship game
W 75–58
20–10
Mississippi Coliseum Biloxi, Mississippi
1986 NCAA tournament
Mar 13, 1986 *
(16 E)
vs. (1 E) No. 1 Duke First Round
L 78–85[ 3]
20–11
Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, North Carolina
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in
Central Time (#) during NCAA Tournament is seed with Region.
References