The Spartans never trailed again.

An MSU team that lost Feb. 2 to Indiana at home in overtime, largely because of 8-of-22 free throw shooting, made 25-of-26 Thursday, good for 96 percent.

“Once you start seeing them go in, like I said, your confidence just goes up,” Winston said. “You know, like everybody’s making them, I feel like I’m gonna make mine too.”

In a game where just about everything for MSU seemed to go wrong, with Bradley players making shots from near the logo and the Spartans unable to create a stable source of offense, the line was the difference.

“It’s a big deal,” junior forward Nick Ward, who made all six of his attempts, said. “96 percent from the free throw line, that was huge for us. That just helps us end out games.”

Sophomore forward Xavier Tillman was asked about how the pressure at the line differs in a game where MSU is a heavy favorite in a one-and-done scenario.

“I don’t know how the challenge is different, but being consistent at the free throw line is something I feel like you can control,” Tillman said. “You never want to bring any more pressure onto yourself, just because we are expected to win, especially a two against a 15-seed. We have to make sure that we capitalize on our free throws.”

Freshman forward Aaron Henry, who struggled on the day, committing five turnovers and drawing the ire of MSU coach Tom Izzo, made two critical free throws with 2:04 remaining to push MSU’s lead to 65-57. He said the key to putting his struggle in the game behind him at the line was a bad memory.

“Forget it,” Henry said. “It’s gonna happen in the game. I’m still living. I’m still able to be at the line, shoot some free throws, and we got a game to win. So, I can’t go back and fix that play.”

Henry knocked on his wooden locker three times hard when told of MSU’s free throw shooting numbers on the day.

Izzo, whose angry reactions to his team’s play became a major talking point on the national broadcasts of the tournament, took a more lighthearted approach to discussing the free throw shooting.

“Before we took the court, I threatened them — if anybody misses a free throw today, you’re dead,” Izzo said joking. “No, that was really impressive. We made a lot of free throws, and we made one after another. For Cassius to do it, for (Tillman) to do it, Nick (Ward). Nick did a helluva job at the free throw line, I was proud of him for that.”

The Spartans take on tenth-seeded Minnesota Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena, with the time yet to be announced. In the only meeting between the Big Ten rivals this season, MSU won 79-55 Feb. 9 in East Lansing.