Bears
Bears lose Cato in warmups, then fall to North Alabama
Braden Fagbemi picks up scoring slack with Taylor out, then Cato aggravates hamstring just before game against Lions
FLORENCE, Ala. — The injury bug bit Central Arkansas yet again Saturday night in a 94-65 loss to the North Alabama Lions in Atlantic Sun Conference action at Flowers Hall.
The Bears, already playing without leading scorer Layne Taylor and three other key players, lost No. 2 scorer and lone senior Elias Cato during warmups when he aggravated a hamstring injury.
Sophomore Brayden Fagbemi took up much of the scoring slack, particularly in the first half. Fagbemi scored 19 points _ one short of his career high _ in the opening 20 minutes, including five three-pointers. UCA was 7 of 17 (41.7 percent) from the arc in the first half. He finished with a career-high 25 points, going 7 of 9 from three-point range.
UCA played 12 different players against the Lions (15-8, 7-3), who improved to 10-1 at home this season.
“It’s hard enough to get your team ready, then you find out 12 minutes before the game that Elias is out,” said UCA coach John Shulman. “We lost our leading scorer last week, then we lose him (our leading scorer) again. Last Friday when we lost Layne we had at least half a day (to prepare). Try doing it in 12 minutes.
“This is a basketball game and it’s supposed to teach us lessons about how to handle adversity and how to handle this stuff. But at one time or another, you’d like to have a decent break on occasion. But we just couldn’t get our feet on the ground in the first half. We were kind of looking around and woe is me, and we can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves. But the reality is we’re down five dudes, and the wrong five dudes.
“We’ve got some really good guys out.”
The Lions led by as much as 23 points in the first half but the Bears kept fighting. UCA finished 13 of 29 (44.8 percent) from three-point range but shot just 43.7 percent from the field overall. The Bears were also 6 of 13 at the free-throw line, as were the Lions. The big difference was the Lions shot 57.8 percent overall on their home floor and forced 15 UCA turnovers.
“Brayden stepped up and made some shots, and that’s good for him,” said Shulman. “Cole was good. And in this type of environment, to be honest, I was worried about us breaking anyway. We’ve been good, we’ve been good, we’ve been good. But sometimes you break and you get fatigued. We were probably due one of these, and I don’t like it. But the combination was probably kind of a perfect storm.
“And UNA is really good, they have a really good basketball team.”
Daniel Oritz led the Lions with 21 points, while Jacari Lane added 17. McCormick scored 12 points for UCA.
The Bears return home next Wednesday when they host Queens at 6:30 p.m. at the Farris Center.
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.
-
Bears8 months agoUCA’s John Shulman, Players Previewing BYU
-
Football1 month agoWalker’s breakout at Bucs’ rookie mini-camp sparks Barrett comparisons
-
Football2 years agoPHOTOS: UCA’s spirit squads at SFA game Saturday
-
Football2 years agoBears’ Will McElvain picks up league honor
-
Football7 months agoPORTAL TRACKER: Latest news of UCA players leaving, coming in portal
-
Football2 years agoBears still have to come back late, but down SFA
-
Bears1 year agoNO PROBLEM: UCA cruises to easy win in final tuneup
-
Football7 months agoNathan Brown Show live from Walk-On’s on Bears staying positive