Having dealt with the media weekly for nearly three years on campus along with the highs and lows that come with it, Appling has become fine-tuned to criticism of both his team and himself – it’s nothing new.

But one prediction in particular stood out to Appling before his team took the floor.

“I saw everyone was giving their predictions about who would win what game and Charles Barkley said Memphis was going to upset us,” Appling said. “You know, that was one of the motivating factors coming into today’s game. We just wanted to prove to people we can run as well and we have a very special team.”

Criticisms in mind, the Spartans (27-8) were able to prove Barkley and others wrong with a 70-48 victory over Memphis on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Harris and junior center Adreian Payne combined for 37 total points, including a career-high 23 points by Harris.

Harris led the way in the first half with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting to pace the Spartans with Appling nursing a knee injury and later re-injuring his right shoulder in the second half of the game.

“I just got to give credit to my teammates,” Harris said. “They were able to find me when I was open and had confidence in me and I was going to be able to knock down the shot.”

And after Harris cooled off in the second half, it was Payne’s turn to step up.

Payne re-emerged a dominant force in the paint, picking up 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in the second half alone to power the Spartans to a victory.

After the game, Payne said the performance came on the heels of a public apology he made to his teammates following a less-than-stellar game Thursday against Valparaiso.

For Payne, it was personal.

“After the Valpo game, I felt I didn’t play as well as I should have, and so at the end of the game, I came in and apologized to the team about it,” Payne said. “I told them I couldn’t have had many turnovers for us to advance in the tournament, and I told them (I) wouldn’t let that happen again.”

The Spartans now are advancing to the program’s fifth Sweet 16 in the past six seasons and the 11th time under head coach Tom Izzo. Moving on to Indianapolis, the Spartans are set to play the winner of Sunday’s game between No. 2 seed Duke and No. 7 seed Creighton.

But as expected, Harris said the team won’t celebrate long, as there’s still plenty of work to be done.

“It’s part of the goal because we need to get to the Sweet 16 to get to the Final Four and eventually a championship,” Harris said. “We’re just happy with this win now. We’re going to enjoy it on the way back, but then once we get back to East Lansing, it’s time to get back to work.”

Nix-Appling scuffle
There was a brief moment of tension for the Spartans during a team huddle late in the game.

With the Spartans in a timeout clinging to a seven-point lead in the second half, senior center Derrick Nix threw a towel at Appling who responded by hurling it back. CBS cameras caught the action and showed the replay several times, setting the Twitter world into a short frenzy.

But even as tensions were rising down the stretch, Izzo said it was the type of passion he’s been waiting for this season.

“I got asked by the TV people, you know, Nix threw a towel at his roommate, his best friend and his guy,” Izzo said. “You know, we have a tendency to do that. But that’s what I meant about a player-coached team, you know. I need players to get on players sometimes.”

Posed with multiple questions about the incident in the locker room after the game, Nix said he understood what the team needed at the point of the game but he held nothing against his longtime friend and teammate Appling.

“Oh yeah, it was just a miscommunication with the ball screen and stuff so we went at it,” Nix said. “You know, that’s my best friend, I love him to death. I treat him like a little brother and we’re over it.”