Bears
Bears close out close win over Austin Peay at Farris Center
Taylor scores 14 as UCA overcomes Governors at end for much-needed win, continuing improvement in ASUN play
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas answered nearly every run by the Austin Peay Governors on Thursday night, but their last one resulted in a 73-71 win for the visitors in ASUN action at the Farris Center.
UCA (5-15, 1-6) trailed 41-34 at halftime, despite a huge rebounding advantage, but then opened the second half with a 13-2 run to grab a 47-43 lead in the first five minutes of the second half. UCA pushed that margin to 63-53 after a Brayden Fagbemi three-pointer and a basket by Layne Taylor.
At one point the Bears had outscored the Governors 27-10 in the second half.
But the Governors (8-12, 3-4) came back with a 14-0 scoring burst to take the lead for good on a three-pointer from Tate McCubbin with 4:35 remaining. UCA would get back to within 69-68 with a three-pointer from Elias Cato and a driving layup by Cole McCormick with 1:05 to play.
The hectic final minute saw an APSU miss that was rebounded by McCormick, followed by a missed shot by the Bears and a foul. APSU made three free throws in the final 5.4 seconds to seal the win.
“There’s a four or five-minute stretch in the game where we just lose it,” said UCA coach John Shulman. “We broke at the end of the first half and we talked about it at the half, do we have enough oomph (to come back). And we came out and played with great toughness in the second half. We were up, what 10 with 9:00 to play? And they made some shots and we made some goofy plays, and that was the game.
“But we were still in a position to win the game with 15 seconds to go. But we haven’t done it.”
Taylor, a freshman from Farmington, led the Bears with 14 points and a pair of three-pointers, despite aggravating a shoulder injury midway through the second half. Fagbemi, a sophomore point guard, had one of UCA’s two double-doubles with 13 points and a career-high 10 assists.
Sophomore Michael Evbagharu had the other double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. UCA dominated the rebound battle in the first half by a 24-14 margin, with Evbagharu pulling down seven. They finished with a 39-34 advantage on the boards.
Both teams connected nine times from three-point range, with the Bears making six in the second half. Fagbemi was 3 of 5 from the arc for the game, including one at the final buzzer.
“Not a lot to say in that locker room right now, to be honest,” said Shulman. “We’re just not good enough. Our effort is good. We’re out three players and we’re battling our guts out. But we came here to change the program, and right now we’re failing and not getting it done. So, disappointed.
“We have to figure out a way to get some wins, and right now we’re not.”
Sai Witt, a 6-foot-8, 270-pound graduate center, led the Governors with 17 points and 9 rebounds, while guard Anton Brookshire hit four threes and added 15 points.
UCA continues its homestand at 1 p.m. Saturday, hosting league-leader Lipscomb, which lost to North Alabama on Thursday night.
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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