The 1985-86 Hornets won a school record 31 games en route to a round of 16 appearance in the NAIA Tournament in Kansas City.  Led by five starters that all graduated from high schools within a two hour drive of Emporia, the Hornets were undefeated in White Auditorium picking up a win over two-time defending national champion Fort Hays State in the District 10 Championship game to go to Kansas City. They defeated BYU-Hawaii in the first round before falling to eventual national champion David Lipscomb 79-76 in Kemper Arena. Brian Robinson and Craig Stromgren both earned All-American honors.