EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State's offense took full advantage of the opportunities created by its defense, scoring all of its points on three turnovers Saturday in a 17-13 victory over Pittsburgh.

The Spartans' Jehuu Caulcrick rushed for a touchdown set up by an interception, while Travis Key ran back another pick for a score. A fumble recovery led to a field goal by Brett Swenson.

Pitt made it interesting by driving to the Spartans' 40-yard line with 4 seconds remaining, but Seneca Valley graduate Kevan Smith's long pass into the end zone on the game's last play was incomplete.

"It came down to the last play of the game," said Smith, who was 9-of-18 passing for only 85 yards. "Turnovers just killed us today. I'm going to take all the fault on those two interceptions that I threw."

"The defensive line causing fumbles — it's all we've worked on all week long," said Spartan linebacker Greg Jones. "But the offense has to score, too. They did their job and we did our job."

Teammate Brian Hoyer completed 14 of 28 passes for 183 yards and had no interceptions. Javon Ringer rushed 20 times for 95 yards while Caulcrick finished with 73 rushing yards.

Freshman LeSean McCoy was Pitt's bright spot on offense, rushing for 172 yards on 25 carries. He ran for 107 yards a week earlier in a 34-10 defeat of Grambling State.

Michigan State (3-0) shut down the Panthers (2-1) on all 12 of their third-down conversion attempts, often just as Pitt appeared poised to take the lead in the hard-fought game.

"The key to the game obviously was the turnovers, and our play on third downs was pretty good — actually, great," said Mark Dantonio, the Spartans' head coach.

Pittsburgh head coach Dave Wannstedt said turnovers cost his team the game.

"It's as simple as that," he said. "We knew coming up here playing on the road it was tough enough. But when you give a good football team points, it's very difficult, particularly in the situation we are in on offense, to overcome that."

Swenson's 23-yard field goal put Michigan State ahead 17-14 with 2:54 left in the game.

Scott McKillop made 17 tackles for the Panthers. Mike Phillips had 13.

Michigan State safety Otis Wiley set up the game's first score when he picked off a pass by Smith and returned it 14 yards to the Pittsburgh 35-yard line.

On the next play, Hoyer hit Kellen Davis for a 32-yard pass that gave the Spartans first-and-goal from the Panthers' 3. Two snaps later, Hoyer tossed what appeared to be a certain touchdown pass to fullback Jeff McPherson, who was wide open at the goal line but could not hold onto the ball.

McPherson redeemed himself on the next play with a crushing lead block that helped to free up Caulcrick for his 2-yard scoring run.