A long journey and an oh-so satisfying ending.

Lew Nichols III ran for 123 yards and a touchdown, Marshall Meeder kicked three field goals, and the Central Michigan defense delivered in the clutch on Friday as the Chippewas held off Washington State, 24-21, to win the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.

It was CMU's first bowl victory since the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl and its first win over a Power 5 opponent since it won at Oklahoma State in 2017.

"We don't an opportunity to play Power 5 teams very often and to get a win, especially in a bowl game as historic as this one, I'm just really proud of our guys," CMU coach Jim McElwain said.

CMU finished 9-4, its highest win total since the 2009 team posted a 12-2 record.

The victory capped a busy and hectic week for CMU, which was scheduled to play Boise State in the Arizona Bowl. Those plans were scrapped on Monday when the Broncos pulled out of the game because of COVID concerns.

CMU landed in the Sun Bowl when Washington State's opponent, Miami (Fla.), pulled out of the game, also because of COVID.

The Chippewas filled the spot, and then delivered before a national television audience in one of the oldest bowl games in college football.

"Any win is huge," said senior defensive end Troy Hairston, who spearheaded CMU's strong defensive effort with 1 ½ sacks. "I wanted a Power Five win for a long time, since I've been at Central, and it was nice to finally get with a bowl-game win. I got a two-for-one to end it.

"To me it's a representation of what our culture is at Central Michigan. It's a representation of how we play football."

CMU built a 21-0 halftime lead and then dug in in the second half when Washington State (7-6) drew to 21-14.

Meeder booted a 43-yard field goal with just over nine minutes remaining to extend CMU's lead to 24-14.

The Cougars scored a touchdown with just over three minutes to play to draw to 24-21, and then, after a CMU punt, started their final drive from their own 14-yard line with 2:41 to play.

CMU linebacker Troy Brown stopped a Cougar receiver inches short on fourth down at the Washington State 23. CMU took over and kneeled out the remainder of the clock.

Meeder kicked field goals of 49 and 52 yards in the first quarter and then Nichols scored on a 1-yard plunge to give CMU a 13-0 first-quarter lead. Meeder's 52-yarder is a CMU bowl record.

The Chippewas extended their lead to 21-0 when quarterback Daniel Richardson connected with tight end Joel Wilson for a 15-yard TD pass with 1:48 to play in the first half and then hit Kalil Pimpleton for the two-point conversion.

Pimpleton set up the TD with a 45-yard punt return to the Cougar 9-yard line.

The Chippewas fumbled inside Washington State's 5-yard line and missed two field goal attempts in the third quarter and the Cougars scored two TDs to draw to 21-14 after three.

CMU's defense recorded five sacks and held Washington State to a combined 2-for-21 on third and fourth down.

Richardson threw for 188 yards on 16-of-29 passing. JaCorey Sullivan led the CMU receiving corps with six catches for 68 yards.