Shaun Noriega scored 22 points and Anthony Crater hit two layups in the final 22 seconds as 15th-seeded South Florida came from behind to clip 10th-seeded Villanova, 70-69, on Tuesday in the first round of the Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden.

Augustus Gilchrist added 16 points for the Bulls (10-22, 3-15 Big East), who will face Cincinnati on Wednesday in the second round.

Villanova had a chance to put it away twice in the final minute, but each time Corey Stokes missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, leaving the door open. After a timeout, Crater got a steal off an inbounds pass and drove for a layup, giving the Bulls their first lead of the second half, 68-67, with 22 seconds left.

The Wildcats jumped back on top on a pair of free throws, but Crater took the inbounds pass, drove the court and got all the way to the rim to for the game-winner with seven seconds left.

After shooting 59 percent from the floor in the first to take a 49-33 lead at the break, the Wildcats went cold in the second, making only four field goals in the half and allowing the Bulls to come back.

Villanova (21-11, 9-9) has lost five in a row, but is expected to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.