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For the vast majority of Flyer fanatics, Wednesday, Feb., 11 2009, was a day filled with elation. The men's basketball team beat Xavier 71-58 at a raucous UD Arena. The win was one of the team's biggest last season and was Dayton's first win over the Musketeers since the 2005-06 season.

But for senior guard Rob Lowery, that date marked the beginning of what he says is the toughest thing he's ever had to do. Lowery tore the patellar tendon in his right knee midway through the first half of the game. The injury ended his season.

"When it first happened I thought my knee dislocated," Lowery said. "I don't know what happened during the play but I felt the sting and I looked at [my knee] and my knee cap was in my thigh so I knew something was wrong."

Lowery cradled his knee for several minutes on the floor and at first the training staff told him his knee was dislocated to calm his nerves. However, when the team's medical staff took Lowery into the training room, he was given the true diagnosis.

"Then they told me that I tore my patellar tendon and that I was out for the season," Lowery said. "As soon as I heard, 'you tore ... ' I went crazy. I pushed the doctor away, and I started throwing stuff. I just lost it. Then I started crying. I hadn't cried in so long. It felt crazy to cry, but I was sick."

Lowery said that the support of his teammates was crucial to him after the injury.

"Without them, I wouldn't have worked hard to get back," Lowery said. "Without them, I wouldn't have made it."

Men's basketball head coach Brian Gregory couldn't agree more. "This is a very tight knit group and guys really look out for each other," Gregory said. "They'll go out of their way to make sure Rob's doing ok. But he's also not a guy that guys feel sorry for or anything like that because I think the guys still demand out of him to be a leader for this team even when he's not playing."

Gregory also said that it was difficult for him to watch Lowery sit out last year.

"It was hard," Gregory said. "Rob has a heart and a passion not only for the game of basketball, but for UD. He really loves this place and I think he realizes that this place has changed him for the better. He's got a greater emphasis on growing up and getting his degree. And in terms of basketball, he's getting a chance to play in front of crowds that he never even thought would happen. For lack of a better word, it's been a dream come true, and it's tough when that's taken away."

It was just as testing for Lowery to sit out.

"It was the toughest thing I've ever had to do," Lowery said. "Knowing that basketball had gotten me to UD and into school and to not be able to play ball anymore, it hurt me, man, it really did."

There have been some positives that Gregory says Lowery has taken from the process though.

"I think he understands how important every single possession is," Gregory said. "I think he understands that this is a fleeting moment and that you better appreciate it and you better take full advantage of it."

Lowery said that he's grown as a player since the injury.

"I learned not to take stuff for granted," Lowery said. "It can be over in one play. I was doing well, and one play took me away."

Although Lowery said his knee is at about 85 percent strength, he has been cleared by the team's medical staff to participate in non-contact drills.

"It's been great (to have him back)," Gregory said. "Our defensive system has been altered because of him and London Warren. They've changed the way this program is perceived and how we play. And he's a bundle of energy, there's no doubt about that."

Lowery is just as happy to be back.

"It's important to me," Lowery said. "I think I bring a lot to the table. And so does everyone else on this team. I think without one of us, we're really going to struggle. We need everybody to get it done."