Tournament host Verbena on Friday built a 12-point halftime lead but could never seem to put away Westminster in a 51-39 win.

In fact, Westminster (2-9) matched the Red Devils (6-5) with 20 points in the second half.

Verbena, playing in the last game of the first day of its Christmas Classic boys basketball tournament, used a 6-point run at the end of the first half to take a 31-19 lead at intermission.

The Devils couldn’t get their shots to fall in the second half against Westminster’s 2-3 defense.

The lead was never less than 10 points, though.

Brandon White scored 13 points for Verbena.

Teammate Brad Boswell recorded 10 points and 15 rebounds, and Jason Ray contributed nine points and eight rebounds.

Westminster’s Jeffrey Stanford scored a game-high 14 points.