Bears
Bears wrap up final Power 4 game in loss on road to Oklahoma
Flurry by the Sooners in second half downs UCA before heading to ASUN schedule when things get serious
NORMAN, Okla. — The No. 14/15 team in the country, the Oklahoma Sooners, led the Central Arkansas by just seven points with 16 minutes to play Sunday before pulling away for an 89-66 victory at the Lloyd Noble Center.
The Bears, playing without five players due to injury and other issues, battled the Sooners for 40 minutes but ran out of gas down the stretch against the undefeated Sooners (12-0). OU was UCA’s fifth — and final — Power 4 opponent in its first 12 games.
“We’re playing so hard with a short bench just to stay in games, and it’s hard,” said UCA coach John Shulman. “And it’s just a reality. But I thought we gutted it out. Down seven at the half. But then we come out and we get fatigued with eight scholarship guys. Right now we’re in an absolute scramble.
“But now we’re done with that. Now it’s time for everybody to chill out for a second, enjoy some time with family, because your family is way more important than an Oklahoma-Central Arkansas game. And then let’s finish off the year the right way on the 29th.”
The Bears stayed within striking distance in the first half behind the hot-shooting hand of redshirt freshman Ben Fox, who was 4 of 4 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes. UCA trailed by just seven at halftime after shooting 45.2 percent from the field and going 6 of 6 at the free-throw line.
Oklahoma senior Duke Miles had a career-high 20 points in the first half, going 7 of 10 from the field, 3 of 5 from the arc and 3 of 3 at the free-throw line. Miles finished with a game-high 29 points, one of three Sooners in double figures. OU was 10 of 29 from three-point range and 13 of 14 at the free-throw line.
UCA got 16 points from freshman guard Layne Taylor, 13 from lone senior Elias Cato and 12 from Fox. The Bears shot 37.5 percent from the field for the game and made nine threes.
The Sooners, coming off a Top 25 win over Michigan, outscored the Bears 40-20 in the paint and 20-9 in points off turnovers.
“(OU head coach) Porter (Moser), who I’ve known for a long time, said this after the game,” Shulman said. He said, ‘Sometimes you can’t look at the scoreboard.’ He was like, you outplayed us in every aspect. They just have better players than us right now. They have really good players, and a lot of them. And that’s why they’re ranked 14th in the country.
“But we have good players, too. A lot of our good players are not in uniform, but that doesn’t stop you from playing hard and trying to compete, and I thought we definitely did that today.”
After a four-day break for the holiday, UCA returns to practice on the 27th in preparation for its final non-conference game of the season. The Bears will host Southwestern Christian at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29. UCA then opens Atlantic Sun Conference play at home on Thursday, Jan. 2 against Eastern Kentucky at the Farris Center.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story
Bears
Shulman brings a little Australia flavor to UCA’s lineup for inside game
Three-time gold medal captain of the U16-U18 Victorian national championship teams is second Australian to join Shulman’s lineup
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas has added a second Australian student-athlete to the roster in guard Harrison Beauchamp, according to UCA coach John Shulman.
Beauchamp is a 6-foot-6 freshman guard from Victoria, Australia who most recently played at Marcelin College.
He is a current NBL1 player, was captain of the Australian U17 national team, was the 2024 FIBA World Cup group state Most Valuable Player (where he averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals) and was captain of the Australian National Team that won gold in Qatar in 2023.
Beauchamp is a three-time gold medal captain of the U16-U18 Victorian national championship teams and was the Victoria Junior Basketballer of the Year in 2022 and 2024.
“Harry is a guy that we had heard a lot about this spring,” said Shulman. “He has had a ton of success during his prep years, both in high school and with his national team. Once we got to lay eyes on him it was apparent that his skill set fit the things that we value.
“His ability to shoot the basketball, combined with his high IQ quickly stuck out to us. After speaking with his coaches and hearing about his competitive edge and love for the game we knew we wanted Harry in our program. We are really excited about what he brings to the table for the Bears.”
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
Bears
UCA strengthens program with three key coaching staff additions
UCA basketball bolsters coaching ranks with experienced additions from top programs, focusing on player development and strength training
Central Arkansas basketball coach John Shulman has made some changes to his coaching staff with three additions.
Will Braden joins the Bears as an assistant coach after serving as director of player development at Fordham University, where he spent five impactful years in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Braden’s appointment brings valuable expertise in player development, having worked closely with NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen, whose client list includes NBA stars Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton.
“Will’s experience in the Atlantic 10 and his background in player development make him an invaluable addition to our program,” said Shulman. “His work with Drew Hanlen has given him insights into elite-level skill development that will benefit our players immensely.”
The Bears are also welcoming Jake Frankiewicz as their new graduate assistant.
Frankiewicz brings a winning pedigree from his time at the University of Toledo, where he served as a student manager for a program that captured three consecutive Mid-American Conference championships.
His behind-the-scenes expertise in program operations and high-energy approach align perfectly with UCA’s culture of excellence.
Perhaps the most intriguing addition is Ivan Hadzic, who takes over as strength and conditioning coach for both men’s and women’s basketball programs.
A native of Sabac, Serbia, Hadzic’s journey through American basketball includes playing experience at Canisius University and Carson-Newman, followed by two seasons as a graduate assistant coach in strength and conditioning at Jacksonville University.
The timing of these staff additions is crucial for UCA, as the program aims to improve upon its 9-24 record from the 2024-25 season.
Shulman, who brings over two decades of coaching experience to Conway, has been methodically building his staff since taking the helm of the program.
His previous success includes multiple NCAA tournament appearances while at Chattanooga and an impressive track record of developing talent.
Hadzic’s expertise is particularly noteworthy, as he holds certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCCA), and USA Weightlifting (USAW).
His comprehensive approach to strength training, combined with his understanding of basketball from a player’s perspective, offers a unique advantage to UCA’s athlete development program.
“These additions represent a significant step forward for our program,” Shulman said. “Each brings a specific skill set that addresses our needs and aligns with our vision for UCA basketball. Will’s player development background, Jake’s operational expertise, and Ivan’s strength and conditioning knowledge create a perfect combination for our staff.”
The Bears play in the ASUN, which has seen increasingly competitive play in recent years. The conference’s level of play has risen significantly, with multiple teams making deep runs in postseason tournaments.
Bears
Australian standout Truman Byrne ‘big’ addition for Shulman’s roster
Size, experience with AUSA Basketball adds size, skill, and championship experience to Shulman’s second roster at UCA
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas has made a big addition to their men’s basketball roster for the 2025-26 season, but they had to go down under to do it.
Bears coach John Shulman signing 6-foot-10 Australian forward Truman Byrne over the weekend, adding some much-needed size to the roster.
Hailing from Melbourne and a product of Berwick College, Byrne brings a rare combination of size, skill, and championship experience.
Byrne’s basketball résumé is impressive.
As a three-time high school national champion representing the state of Victoria, he averaged 16.5 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during his senior year.
His versatility extends beyond the basketball court. He’s also a two-time medalist in golf and was selected for Australia’s NBL league at just 17.
“We have been very meticulous with this last forward spot and I am excited to say that after sifting through hundreds of prospects that Truman Byrne is exactly what we were looking for,” Shulman said
“Within the first 10 minutes of meeting Truman I knew he fit us perfectly when it came to his personality and character. It just so happens that he is a 6-10 solid-framed kid with a great deal of skill.”
Shulman highlighted Byrne’s shooting and passing abilities as key assets for the Bears’ offensive system.
“It’s a perfect fit for us in what we are going to do offensively,” Shulman said. “While Truman has all of the abilities that we are looking for, it is also very refreshing to know that he has really been coached.
“Coming out of the AUSA program we know that he has been taught how to play the game of basketball with high IQ and a competitive edge.”
Byrne’s recruitment reflects a growing trend of NCAA programs looking internationally for talent, especially from Australia, which has produced NBA and college standouts such as Ben Simmons and Josh Giddey.
The Australian basketball development system is known for its emphasis on fundamentals and team play, traits that Shulman and his staff value highly.
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