HELENA, Mont. -- Apparently Santa gave the Saints some added moxie for Christmas. 

In a physical, grind-it-out affair against the Montana Tech Orediggers, the No. 3 Saints dug deep and came away with a 76-68 win on Saturday in the PE Center.

The Saints turned the ball over 26 times, but still found ways to get to the rim or the foul line. The Saints knocked down 30-of-38 free throws on Saturday. 

"I thought we had way too many turnovers," Saints coach Kurt Paulson told Sports 94.9 in a post-game interview. "We knew what Montana Tech was trying to do. It took us out of our offense and we never got into our flow."

All the moments that suggested Carroll would break away, Tech had a physical, athletic answer the majority of the game. 

That physicality boiled over into a rough foul early on in the second half. Match Burnham got a steal and Matt Wyman raced out on the break. As Wyman went for a fast-break lay-in, Montana Tech guard Nate Ward violently raked Wyman's shoulder, pulling him to the ground. 

A scuffle ensued. Players from both teams jawed about the play. After tempers cooled and Wyman returned to his feet, officials assessed Ward with a flagrant one, followed by three technicals. Ward, Burnham and Troy Owens Jr. received a T. 

Wyman sunk two free throws and then Dane Warp hit two more. Wyman added two more 30 seconds later, and the Saints looked like they may have remedied Tech's physicality, holding a 16-point lead. 

And then, Tech went on a 17-2 run and got within one. 

The Saints switched to a zone and checked in the Finnish freshman Eetu Villa, who immediately made an impact. 

Villa flung a pass to Ife Kalejaiye, who knocked down a three-pointer. Then, Warp added a bucket and a free throw. Villa then added a score and a three-pointer to put the Saints up 53-44 with a lead well in hand. 

"He's just getting in shape," Paulson said of Villa. "It was awesome to see him step up. He was the difference in the game." 

It was a decisive run that helped the Saints maintain a multiple-possession lead the rest of the game. 

Warp led all scorers with 21 points, while adding six rebounds, three assists and two steals. 

Wyman finished with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. 

Kalejaiye (12) and Burnham (11) were the other Saints to score in double figures. Burnham also pulled down seven rebounds. 

Taylor England led Tech with 16 points. He was the only Oredigger in double figures. 

The Saints travel to Billings on Jan. 3 to face Rocky Mountain College. 

NOTES: How about them Havre kids? While Warp led the Saints men's team in scoring, Dani Wagner Dane Warp led the women's team with 22 points… Villa's parents traveled from Finland to attend Saturday night's game… Brad King exited the game in the first half and did not return.