ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- New Mexico guard Senque Carey showed a room full of reporters Monday that intensive physical therapy and his desire to play again are helping him overcome a paralyzing injury.

Carey, who suffered a spinal cord injury when he took a charge in a game Nov. 25 against Northwestern State, had no sensation in his legs until late last week.

Carey, who has been spending more than three hours a day in therapy, was able to move his legs about an inch while holding onto a bar Friday.

And after an electro-stimulation therapy session Sunday, the senior guard was able to get out of his wheelchair, slowly walk onto the basketball court and later shoot some baskets.

Carey walked into Monday's news conference with his girlfriend, Nadia Steed, at his side.

"I'm kind of, you know, happy to be here -- actually walking in on my own power," Carey said.

It was a testament to his determination to play again. He said Monday he intends to return to the court but knows there is a long road ahead of him.

"I'm not all the way there, but you know, a step toward it," he said.

Carey said he expects to work through some legal issues with the university before he will be allowed to play, but he said no one has told him he wouldn't be able to play once he regained his health.

Dr. Bob Schenck, an orthopedic surgeon and the team's doctor, has said Carey had a pre-existing narrowing of the spine and it was uncertain last week if Carey would regain the use of his legs.

Carey said he is aware of the risk of re-injury, but it's a risk he is willing to take.

New Mexico athletics director Rudy Davalos said Monday that it was too early to talk about a potential extension of Carey's eligibility because of his medical hardship.

But Davalos called the senior's progress miraculous.

"This was like finding out we made it to the Final Four," Davalos said of Carey being able to walk.

Carey, from East Palo Alto, Calif., transferred to New Mexico after playing for two years at Washington.

During the Lobos practice Sunday at The Pit, Carey got out of his wheelchair and took 10 slow steps, and later shot 3-pointers for about 20 minutes.

"It felt good just to have a ball in my hand," Carey said Monday.

Carey left University of New Mexico Hospital on Monday, after spending nearly two weeks there since his injury. He noted that he left without his wheelchair.

Carey, who turns 24 Thursday, said he will continue his daily physical therapy until he is able to run again.

When asked if being able to walk was a good birthday present, Carey added: "And Christmas too."