MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -The moment didn't heal Michael Phillips' pain, bring back his sister or his father or restore his mother's amputated legs.

But when the South Alabama senior forward saw his mother in the stands two months ago - the first time she ever got to watch him play - it nearly drove him to tears.

``The feeling was unreal,'' Michael said. ``I can't describe how it felt. It felt like I was dreaming, but at the same time like a big load off my chest.''

Confined to a nursing home since having both legs amputated because of diabetes five years ago, Mary Phillips had never seen her son play basketball in person - not in elementary school, the Boys & Girls Club, high school, junior college or college.

Now her son and the 14th-seeded Jaguars (24-6) head to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998 on Thursday against No. 3 Florida.

Phillips is a key reserve for the Sun Belt Conference tournament champions. He is averaging 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 62 percent - even though he hasn't had a full range of motion in his shooting hand since breaking it several years ago.

Phillips, a junior college transfer, was about 9 years old when his father died of a heart attack. His little sister, Dede, was born with scoliosis and a heart ailment; she died two days before his graduation from LeFlore High School in Mobile.

Mary Phillips was diagnosed with diabetes and lives in a nursing home about 7 miles from campus.

``It was real tough,'' said Michael, who frequently walks the 14-mile round trip to see his mother. ``I used to wake up in the mornings and see them, see how sick they are. I used to be like, 'Why aren't I sick?' I still ask myself why my sister was so sick while I'm in perfect health. There's nothing wrong with me.''

His mother, burdened by her own health problems and those of Dede, hadn't been able to see Michael play until Jan. 19 against Middle Tennessee.

``I'll never forget that day,'' South Alabama coach John Pelphrey said. ``Before we had our game day practice, Mike comes bouncing into my office. He said, 'Coach, my mom's coming to the game tonight.' He said, 'You don't understand, Coach. This is the first time she's ever seen me play.'''

Phillips brought one trial on himself when he had to sit out last season while academically ineligible. He returned to help the Jaguars go from a 10-win season to the NCAA tournament. Now, Pelphrey said, Phillips is ``always prepared'' for class.

``He's a joy,'' the former Kentucky player said. ``He's one of my favorite guys of all time.''

Phillips draws motivation from two pledges he made to his mother - he wouldn't give up despite all the obstacles, and he would ``make something of myself.''

``Every time I wake up in the morning, I think about those two things,'' Phillips said. ``That's what keeps pushing me forward, makes me get up, makes me not want to give in. It gets hard sometimes.

``It gets tough, but I always sit back and see my momma's face and hear her words and that just motivates me even more.''

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