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ESTERO -- Size figured to be an obstacle Saturday night for Florida Gulf Coast, which was the shorter team for one of the few times this season.

It didn't matter.

The Eagles still won the battle of the boards for the 15th time in 16 games, turning the tables on Florida Tech for a 60-47 victory at Alico Arena.

Florida Tech point guard EJ Murray, the smallest player on the court, shined with his silky jump shot, but the Panthers' big men couldn't keep the Eagles from scrapping for rebounds.

"We make it a very big emphasis from Day One," FGCU coach Dave Balza said of the team's penchant for working the glass, which continues to be a strength. "Offensive rebounding is about effort -- and I think we do effort things well."

FGCU finished with 44 rebounds, including 20 of the offensive variety. That was eight and five more than Florida Tech, respectively.

Not bad considering Florida Tech's starting lineup featured players 6-foot-5, 6-8 and 6-10. All five FGCU regulars measure 6-foot or taller, but the tallest is junior Adam Liddell, a 6-7 forward with a lanky, 215-pound frame.

Not bad, either, considering FGCU's tallest players did not dress. Six-foot-10 Roman Narmbaye (virus) and 6-9 Landon Adler (knee), the team's second-leading rebounder, missed Saturday's win, the second game in a row they weren't in the lineup.

It is clear, though, that FGCU prides itself on pounding the glass. Lynn got the best of the Eagles on the boards in an 83-77 victory back on Nov. 30, the only time this season that Balza's crew has been beaten on rebounds.

Against the Panthers, it was more of the same. Liddell led the charge with 11 rebounds, only two fewer than Janko Mrksic, Florida Tech's 6-10, 275-pound center.

"Everybody has to rebound," Liddell said. "I took it upon myself to be relentless, especially on offense. I tried to block out every time and go up after rebounds as much as I could."

The Eagles (11-5) established their presence with a 22-16 edge on the boards in the first half. They led by 12 points at the break, in part because the Panthers (4-9) seemed reluctant to test FGCU with their interior game.

"Too many jumpers!" Florida Tech coach Billy Mims implored at one point, questioning whether his players had the gumption to go inside.

FGCU, though, needed plays down the stretch to win. Florida Tech stayed within two possessions until the Eagles found a 13-5 run in the final eight minutes.

That was with Terike Barrowes, a 6-7 reserve, battling a hamstring injury. He played only sparingly at the end, allowing walk-on Casey Pond (six points, four rebounds, two assists) a more significant role.

Meanwhile, Murray finally cooled off. The 5-11, 150-pound quarterback scored 14 of Florida Tech's 26 points in the first half, but he finished just 5-for-18 from the field. His 20 points, though, led all scorers, followed by FGCU's Casey Wohlleb with 13.

"I thought we played excellent tonight," Liddell said of the Eagles, who travel to Puerto Rico this week for three games in four days, looking to extend their three-game winning streak. "That was a big win for us."

Big, indeed. In more ways than one.