During his struggles, Rodney Purvis never wavered in his approach and attitude. He's always maintained his same work ethic and sunny disposition.

Nothing has changed now that the UConn fifth-year senior guard is riding a hot streak.

"I'm just staying with it and I'm staying confident," Purvis said. "That's it, really. That's all I can really say. When I was playing horrible, I still stayed consistent with my work ethic and stayed in the gym each and every day."

Purvis' improved play has helped spark a productive streak for the Huskies (11-12, 6-5), who have won four of the last five entering Saturday's American Athletic Conference game against Central Florida (15-9, 6-6) at CFE Arena in Orlando (6 p.m., CBS Sports Network). The Knights are in a funk, losing five of their last six, but are more dangerous at home where they've dropped only two games this season.

In Wednesday's 97-51 rout of South Florida, Purvis tied his season high with 23 points, contributing a career-best six 3-pointers.

"The last couple of games, he's been shooting the ball very, very well," coach Kevin Ollie said Wednesday. "He's trending up, especially with his 3-point shot. We just want that to keep going. He's taking his time. He's always in the gym, which is great.

"But I was proud of the five assists. I don't like the four turnovers, but he really made some good plays that I haven't seen him make this season."

In the last five games, Purvis is averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 steals while playing marathon minutes (36 per game). He's shooting 54.5 percent (30-for-55) from the field, 51.6 (16-for-31) from 3-point range and 78.6 (11-for-14) from the foul line.

That's quite an improvement from Purvis' earlier numbers. Prior to his hot streak, he was converting 33 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from three, both career lows.

Experience has taught him that things would eventually turn for the better.

"That's with life as well," Purvis said. "You go through rough times in life and good times in life. Same with basketball. You just can't ever get too high or get too low. You've just got to go through the ups and downs. It's always a better day the next day."

UConn's field goal percentage also is on the rise. With the AAC assist leader Jalen Adams running the show, the Huskies are playing unselfish basketball and generating good shots. Four of the team's top six shooting performances this season came in the last eight games, including a season-high 62.5 percent in Wednesday's win.

The Huskies have converted 24 of their last 42 3-point attempts and drained 75 percent or better from the foul line in each of the last eight games.

"We are definitely shooting the ball better from the perimeter and free throw line," Ollie said. "That is attributed to guys getting in the gym and taking care of their bodies and understanding where their teammates are. ... The guys really practice hard and have challenged each other in practice. All of that has combine in helping improve our shooting."

UConn will be put to the test against UCF, which leads the nation in field goal percentage defense at 35.5 percent and ranks fifth in scoring defense at 61 points per game.

In the first meeting this season on Jan. 8, the Huskies seized control from the start, leading by 17 at halftime, and posted a 64-49 win in Hartford. They shot 47.4 percent from the field and limited the Knights to 33 percent. Senior Amida Brimah won the battle of the big men, holding sophomore Tacko Fall, a 7-foot-6 center experiencing a breakout season, scoreless.

It's an important game in the AAC standings as UConn is tied for fifth, a half-game ahead of UCF. Outside of already beating the Knights, the Huskies have struggled against the stronger teams in the league.

"We have to come out with the same confidence no matter who we are playing," Purvis said. "The same confidence against USF we should have against Cincinnati and SMU. It just has to be contagious at the end of the day. We just have to bring it."

g.keefe@theday.com

UCONN at CENTRAL FLORIDA

Location: CFE Arena, Orlando

Tip: 6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Records: UConn 11-12, 6-5; UCF 15-9, 6-6

Last game: UConn beat South Florida, 97-51, Wednesday; UCF lost at Cincinnati, 60-50, Wednesday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-3 so. guard Jalen Adams (14.8 pts, 4.5 rebs, 6.7 assists), 6-4 r-sr. guard Rodney Purvis (13.2 pts, 4.5 rebs), 6-8 fr. forward Vance Jackson (7.7 pts), 6-10 sr. forward Kentan Facey (8.6 pts, 7.1 rebs), 7-0 sr. center Amida Brimah (8.2 pts, 5.8 rebs, 3.0 blks)

UCF, 6-2 r-so. guard B.J. Taylor (16.8 pts, 3.8 assists), 6-5 r-sr. guard Matt Williams (16 pts, 4.8 rebs), 6-6 sr. forward Tank Efianayi (9.4 pts, 4.5 rebs), 6-9 r-jr. forward A.J. Davis (7.5 pts, 7.5 rebs), 7-6 so. center Tacko Fall (12.4 pts, 9.9 rebs)

Noteworthy: UConn captured 4 of last 5, with all four wins vs. teams with losing AAC records. ... UCF lost 5 of last 6. Four of those defeats came on the road. ... Series: UConn lead 9-1, winning first meeting this season 64-49 Jan. 8 in Hartford. Huskies shot 47.4 percent against the nation's leader in FG percentage defense at 35.5. Purvis led way with 17 pts. Fall held scoreless. ... Knights with most overall wins since 2012-13, tie team mark for most AAC wins. ... Top reserve: 6-9 so. forward Chad Brown (5.4 pts, 4 rebs). ... Williams 1st in AAC in 3-pters per game at 3.8. ... Knights 11-2 at home, Huskies 2-6 on road. ... Hot: Purvis shooting 55.8 percent (24-for-43) in last 4 games. Cold: Jackson averaging 4 pts in last 3 games. ... UCF 3rd in the nation in rebound margin at 10.8. UConn 9-3 when out-rebounds a foe. ... Huskies 10-1 under Ollie playing in state of Fla. Only loss to USF in 2013. ... Up next: UConn hosts Memphis Thursday in Hartford.

— Gavin Keefe