1986 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game

1986 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
1986 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
National Championship Game
(31–7)	(37–2)
72	69
Head coach:; Denny Crum	Head coach:; Mike Krzyzewski
AP: 7; Coaches: 3;	AP: 1; Coaches: 1;
Date	March 31, 1986
Arena	Reunion Arena
Location	Dallas, Texas
MVP	Pervis Ellison, Louisville
Favorite	Duke
Referee(s)	Hank Nichols, Don Rutledge, Pete Pavia
Attendance	16,493
United States TV coverage
Network	CBS
Announcers	Brent Musburger (play-by-play); Billy Packer (color)

The 1986 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game was the finals of the 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and it determined the national champion for the 1985-86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 1986 National Title Game was played on March 31, 1986 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. The 1986 National Title Game was played between the 1986 East Regional Champions, Duke and the 1986 West Regional Champions, Louisville.

Participating teams[]

West
- Louisville (2) 93, Drexel (15) 73
- Louisville 82, Bradley (7) 68
- Louisville 94, North Carolina (3) 79
- Louisville 84, Auburn (8) 76
Final Four
- Louisville 88, LSU (11) 77

Johnny Dawkins of Duke shoots over a Louisville player

East
- Duke (1) 85, Mississippi Valley State (16) 78
- Duke 89, Old Dominion (8) 61
- Duke 74, DePaul (12) 67
- Duke 71, Navy (7) 50
Final Four
- Duke 71, Kansas (1) 67

CBS

Monday, March, 31

#2 Louisville Cardinals 72, #1 Duke Blue Devils 69
Pts: Pervis Ellison – 25 Rebs: Herbert Crook – 12 Asts: Herbert Crook – 5		Pts: Johnny Dawkins – 24 Rebs: Mark Alarie – 6 Asts: Tommy Amaker – 7 Halftime Score: Duke, 37–34

Reunion Arena – Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 16,493