"The 2011-12 season was much different than 2010-11.  After a strong finish in 2010-11, we were picked to win the KCAC and were nationally ranked to start the year.  When you have those types of expectations, everyone you play is motivated to beat you.  The experience and leadership we had in 2011-12 was outstanding.  This team refused to lose.  Their focus in practice and games was incredible.  I was a coach that believed in attention to detail and this group was all in.  They studied the scouting reports, recognized their roles on the team, and were always ready to give their best effort."

Led by KCAC Player of the Year Aaron Fraizer, MC won its first ten games of the 2011-12 season, before finishing the regular season with a 27-3 record and a 16-2 mark in KCAC play.

Again, the Bulldogs advanced to Hartman Arena behind a pair of single-digit wins over Bethany and Tabor, but this time MC would take the crown, knocking off second-seeded Saint Mary 86-79.

That momentum carried over into the national tournament as the fifth-seeded Bulldogs needed overtime to advance past Dakota State, 69-63.

From there, the Bulldogs gritted out a win over St. Thomas University, before squaring off against Dordt College in the Quarterfinals.

Down seven with 51 seconds to go, Shivers hit the first of his two 3-pointers in the final 35 seconds and started one of the biggest comebacks in tournament history. Dordt missed two free throws on the ensuing possession and McPherson cut the lead to one on a 3-pointer by Aaron Frazier. A Defenders turnover on the inbound pass gave the Bulldogs the basketball back and Shivers drained another 3-pointer to give his team its first lead of the second half (80-78) with 14 seconds left.

With the win over Dordt, the Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA Division II semifinals, but fell 76-56 to top-ranked Northwood University (now Keiser University) to end their magical run.