Peyton Stovall worked through pregame warmups on Senior Night in a businesslike fashion, not dwelling on the fact it was the final time he would practice the routine in Worthen Arena.
As game time drew closer, though, the emotions of playing in his final home game for the Ball State University men's basketball team began to grow.
The emotion grew when Stovall looked at his good friend, former sports information director Chris Taylor, before the two went through their own pregame ritual to get the adrenaline flowing. It grew more after he left the home locker room to take the court for the last time and more still when he met his family before pregame introductions and saw tears falling from his mother's eyes.
Then, as he raised a plaque of his jersey to the rafters - a place where it might one-day hang - as a standing ovation cascaded down upon him during a pregame ceremony, that emotion spilled over.
"It was just awesome that the crowd came out even though it's icy outside like it is with the weather," Stovall said. "It was awesome that they gave me that ovation. I was just so appreciative and thankful."
As Tuesday's 69-63 win against Northern Illinois University unfolded, Senior Night developed into Stovall's personal tribute. Hardly a timeout passed without an announcement blaring from the public address system, telling the crowd of 3,247 fans Stovall became Ball State's first player to be named a top-10 finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
Stovall, who recorded his third double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, passed last year's leading senior, Skip Mills, into 11th place in career scoring with 1,364 points.
Tuesday was also an emotional night for Stovall's fellow captain, redshirt junior Anthony Newell.
"I kind of felt that emotion with him," Newell said. "Just knowing all the stuff we've been through together - his knee injuries, the [different] coaches, the changes - me him and Brandon [Lampley] are like the last ones here from the little group we had. It's kind of hard to see one of us go."
During his five-year career, Stovall has experienced his share of adversity. The senior has suffered through two major knee injuries and has played for three different coaches. He also provided a calming effect to his teammates through the summer scandal and resignation of last year's coach, Ronny Thompson.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Peyton," first-year coach Billy Taylor said. "His parents did a wonderful job raising him. He's a quality young man, and he's made a significant impact on our program. I just so much appreciate what he's done for us."
As strong as the relationship between Newell and Stovall is, Newell said, his only focus this week was to send his friend out with a win in his final home game.
"That's the best way to send a senior out," Newell said. "That was our main focus all week in practice, 'Let's send Peyton out the right way.' That was our focus when we came out here and played."
Despite not having the number of wins to justly display the effect Stovall's leadership has had on his team this year, Billy Taylor said, the Cardinals' one senior this season will have a great influence on any future success Ball State achieves.
"It's unfortunate that he won't necessarily be a part of the complete transition, but he has laid the foundation for us," the coach said. "We will always recognize - as coaches, as staff - we will always go back and say, 'Peyton Stovall was an integral part of helping us win championships.'"
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