Detroit, MI -- (Sports Network) - Rusty Smith threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns, as the Florida Atlantic Owls capped their season with a 24-21 win over the Central Michigan Chippewas in the Motor City Bowl.

Smith was 20-of-35 passing and earned the game's MVP award for the Owls (7-6), who won six of their final seven games to finish the season with a winning record. Cortez Gent caught seven passes for 98 yards and a score, while Chris Bonner added 85 yards receiving and a touchdown in the win, only the second bowl victory in Florida Atlantic school history.

Jamari Grant recorded 70 yards on five receptions, and Charles Pierre was the leading rusher with 77 yards on 16 carries.

Dan LeFevour completed 28-of-40 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for Central Michigan (8-5), which lost its second straight Motor City Bowl in its third consecutive appearance. Antonio Brown had 11 receptions for 92 yards and a score, while Kito Poblah had 60 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion on six catches.

LeFevour also garnered 56 yards on the ground on 14 carries in the loss for the Chippewas.

With the game tied, 10-10, at halftime, the Owls went ahead midway through the third quarter, as Smith hit Bonner for a 52-yard touchdown pass to cap an eight-play drive.

Andrew Aguila's 33-yard field goal pulled the Chippewas to within four points with five minutes left in the third.

Central Michigan had a chance to go in front early in the fourth, but a three- and-out gave the ball back to the Owls, who capitalized on their opportunity.

Starting at its own 30, Florida Atlantic drove for a touchdown in nine plays, as Smith found Gent from 18 yards out for a 24-13 lead with just over 10 minutes to play.

The Chippewas drove all the way down to the Owls' one-yard line on their next drive, but facing a 4th-and-goal from the six, LeFevour's pass was knocked down in the end zone with a little over five minutes to go.

Florida Atlantic could do nothing with the ball and punted from its own end zone. Central Michigan took over at the Owls' 34 and scored five plays later on Brown's 15-yard touchdown reception.

A penalty moved the Chippewas back to the eight-yard line on the two-point conversion attempt, but LeFevour found Poblah in the back of the end zone to make it 24-21 with 3:09 remaining.

Central Michigan was unable to come up with the onsides kick attempt, and the Owls took over at the opposing 41. The offense was able to run out the remainder of the clock to secure the victory.

Florida Atlantic got on the board first. After each team went three-and-out to start the game, the Owls put together a six-play, 66-yard drive that ended when Smith ran into the end zone from one yard out midway through the opening period.

The Chippewas came back to tie it, marching 75 yards down the field in eight plays. LeFevour's five-yard pass to Poblah capped the drive early in the second quarter.

Central Michigan took a 10-7 lead with 9 1/2 minutes left in the half on Aguila's 34-yard field goal.

The Owls forged a 10-10 tie before halftime, as Ross Gornall nailed a 36-yard field goal in the first attempt of his career.

Game Notes:

Friday's game marked the first time the two schools have met...Florida Atlantic's only other bowl victory came in the 2007 New Orleans Bowl, a 44-27 victory over Memphis...Central Michigan's only bowl victory was in the 2006 Motor City Bowl, a 31-14 win over Middle Tennessee...The Owls have never lost a bowl game.