EL PASO, Texas -- Kris Brewer's free throw with 2.9 seconds left in the game earned Kent State a 53-52 win over North Dakota State Sunday in the first game of the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational at the University of Texas-El Paso.

North Dakota State (6-5) took a 50-48 lead with 1:38 remaining on a pair of free throws by Paul Miller, but Jimmy Hall pulled Kent State even with a pair of free throws nine seconds later.

Hall scored on a layup to give the Golden Flashes the lead, but Kory Brown knotted the game at 52-52 on a hard-fought layup with 18.1 seconds remaining.

Brewer, who led Kent State (8-2) with 14 points, drove to the basket and drew a foul to set up his game-winning free throw.

Brown got off a mid-court shot as time ran out, but it fell short.

Lawrence Alexander led the Bison with 15 points.