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LARAMIE – Josh Adams said every basketball game he has played at the University of Wyoming has its own memory.

Today's game with San Jose State is another, but it should have a more lasting one.

That's because it will be Adams' last at home as UW (13-17 overall, 6-11 Mountain West) plays San Jose State (8-20, 3-13) at 7 p.m.

Adams, a 6-foot-2 guard and UW's only senior this season, wasn't heavily recruited out of Chaparral High in Parker, Colorado. When coach Larry Shyatt returned to UW in 2011 – he coached the Cowboys for one season in 1997-98 – he and his staff knew the kind of players and people they wanted to bring to Laramie, and they found what they wanted in their second recruiting class when they signed Adams.

"We wanted to get the best guys we could get with as few shortcuts as possible in terms of family values and character," Shyatt said. "We were wrong a couple of times, but for the most part our staff has done a good job of finding guys with the best possible talent, that wanted to come here, with the least amount of waste or flaws in their past, and would give us the best shot in Laramie to win and be a part of the community.

"Josh is a great illustration of that."

"Great" accurately describes the type of player Adams has been for the Cowboys.

UW lists 23 career individual statistical categories in its media guide. Adams will leave the school ranked in the top 10 in 11 of them. Adams also could become the most prolific single-season scorer in school history. He needs eight points to break Flynn Robinson's record of 701 points in the 1964-65 season. After tonight's game, UW is guaranteed at least one game at the MW Tournament, which starts a week from today.

And if UW's season ends in the first game of the MW Tournament, Adams will leave tied for the most games played in school history with 131.

Adams has been among the top five scorers in the country this season and enters tonight's game tied for third at 24.8 points per game.

Based on pure numbers, Adams is one of the best players in the 111-year history of UW basketball.

Adams said the biggest highlights of his career include being a part of last season's team, which won UW's first-ever MW Tournament championship in any sport, and playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. Adams was the MW Tournament Most Valuable Player.

But equally as fulfilling and gratifying for Adams has been the leadership role he's taken on this season with this team, which currently consists of six freshmen, five sophomores and two juniors.

It hasn't been easy. Adams was suspended for one game by the conference for a continued violation of its sportsmanship rule after he was assessed his third technical foul of the season.

Adams isn't afraid to let his emotions show, but that's not what makes him the leader he is, according to his coach and teammates.

"Everyone sees the talent he has, but they don't see the work he puts in behind the scenes," junior guard Jason McManamen said. "Every time I go to the gym, he's already there working on his game. That work ethic he has is what has made him successful and will make him successful at the next level as well."

Added Shyatt: "He's had a lot of pressure on him on both ends of the floor, in the locker room and off the court. I think he's done a splendid job. Not errorless, but a splendid job.

"He's continued what we hope to strive for in our program, and that is one of development and learning. I think he set the table for a lot of these young guys."

It's no secret how teams game plan when they play UW: stop or slow down Adams, and take your chances the other players won't be enough to beat you.

Despite that, Adams has been held under 20 points only eight times this season, and has scored 30 or more points nine times.

Adams' scoring, athleticism and dunks are what most fans love to watch, but what often goes unnoticed is that he leads UW and the MW among guards in rebounding (5.6 per game). And he is second on the team with 15 blocked shots – as a 6-2 guard.

"He's the best player I've ever played with or against in practice," said McManamen, who is second on the team in scoring (14.1 ppg).

UW defeated three top-25 teams at home during Adams' career. Tonight's game doesn't feature that same caliber of opponent, though San Jose State beat UW 61-55 earlier this season. The game also doesn't figure to have as big of a crowd as many of Adams' previous home games.

But Adams said he doesn't consider those kinds of things when he thinks about what it's been like to play in the A-A.

"I couldn't ask for a better place to play and a better atmosphere," he said. "There is a lot of history in that gym and a lot of great players who played in there that probably don't get the recognition they deserve.

"It's an honor to be part of this university and that arena."