The second day of the 9 Days of Championships is a quiet one. The only conference tournament taking place is the CUNYAC Men’s Quarterfinals. So this seems like a good time to catch our breath and highlight a couple other playoff happenings from yesterday.

A gift from Camden: When TCNJ Head Coach John Castaldo won his 200th game against Rutgers-Camden on Thursday night, he probably figured he was done for the year. The Lions were just 5-8 and needed Rutgers-Camden to beat Kean for TCNJ to get into the playoffs. The Scarlet Raptors had only one win in three seasons of conference play entering the weekend.

Make that two wins after Rutgers-Camden stunned Kean 86-77 yesterday. That win put TCNJ in the NJAC tournament where they will travel to reeling Ramapo, who has lost two straight. Lions’ fans can send those thank you cards to Rutgers-Camden Athletics; 3rd Street; Camden, NJ 08102.

Phew: Susquehanna certainly made things interesting in their quest for a MAC-Commonwealth playoff bid. The Crusaders rallied from down seven on the road at Lebanon Valley with under three minutes left to force overtime on a Brad Okonak three-pointer. After trailing virtually the entire game in regulation, Susquehanna never trailed in overtime, surviving 74-69.

Susquehanna travels to Juniata on Wednesday for the MAC-Commonwealth semifinals. Lebanon Valley’s season ends with the heartbreaking loss.

High five: The Muhlenberg men won their fifth game in a row yesterday, beating Ursinus 76-68 to clinch the fifth and final playoff spot in the Centennial Conference. As is usually the case in the Centennial, this was a crazy race with 9 of 10 teams still harboring playoff hopes entering the final week.

On a down note, Muhlenberg’s gain is McDaniel’s loss as the Green Terror fell to Washington College yesterday. As has been chronicled here and elsewhere, this has been an especially trying season for McDaniel whose Head Coach Bob Flynn passed away during the season. McDaniel missed the conference playoffs but showed a lot of fight this year. Coach Flynn was building something special in Westminster and we wish the Green Terror the best as they continue his legacy.

Just like they Drew it up: Congratulations to the Drew Rangers who clinched their first MAC-Freedom Women’s Conference Playoff birth yesterday. The Rangers defeated Wilkes 84-70 and got help from Lycoming, who beat Delaware Valley 80-64, to wrap up the fourth and final playoff spot.

Special kudos go out to three women who have had a phenomenal season at Drew. The Rangers have a very special backcourt in Melissa Kraft (18.6, 5.3 rpg) and Courtney Cunningham (18.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg), the second and fourth all-time scorers at Drew. They were both All-Academic and All-Conference honorees last year, excelling on and of the court. And Karin Harvey, who got the head coaching position very late in the offseason when G.P. Gromacki left for Hamilton, has done a great job.

Even if Drew’s run ends abruptly on the road at No. 6 Scranton, this team should enjoy this special accomplishment.

And these are just a couple playoff stories from one part of the country. Let’s hear more good stories below.