Bears
Bears finally land much-needed win, downing North Florida
Bears battle back in second half after John Shulman thought they “were done” at halftime break against Ospreys
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas used a dominant second half, and an overtime period, to knock off the North Florida Ospreys 84-83 in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Saturday at the Farris Center.
UCA (7-20, 3-11), which had lost four consecutive games, fought its way back from a 17-point halftime deficit by outscoring UNF 38-21 in the second half.
The Bears’ defense held the Ospreys to 21.1 percent shooting overall in the second half and 5-of-25 (20 percent) from three-point range. UNF had made 12 threes in the first half and finished the game with 20 on a whopping 51 attempts.
“To be honest with you, I kind of felt at halftime that our kids were beat down and had had enough,” said UCA coach John Shulman. “I thought we were done at the half. And I was really disappointed. But resilient, absolutely. I’m really proud of our kids.
“This team has been through a lot. It’s human nature, enough is enough. I’m tired of this stuff. We had a chance to do that at halftime. Nobody would have thought anything wrong about that, nobody would have pointed a finger at us. Aww, your kids played really hard, blah, blah, blah.
“But they didn’t want to hear that today. I’m really proud of our kids, really proud of their resiliency. It was a really neat win for us and I’m excited for them.”
The Bears, still playing without five players, got a game- and career-high 23 points from sophomore guard Michael Evbagharu, along with 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Evbagharu was perfect in the first half, going 3 of 3 from the field, 2 of 2 from the arc and 2 of 2 at the free-throw line.
Evbagharu made a steal and was fouled with UCA leading 83-80 with 1.9 seconds left. After missing the first free throw, he connected on the second, which turned out to be the game-winner as UNF’s Kamrin Oriol launched a desperation three-pointer that went in, setting the one-point final.
The Bears, down 49-32 at the break, put together a big scoring run midway through the second half. UCA outscored UNF 19-6 beginning at the 9:30 mark and eventually tied the game at 67-67 on a Cole McCormick basket with 1:32 remaining. McCormick, who tied his career high with 19 points, scored 10 consecutive points down the stretch.
In overtime, Brayden Fagbemi and Evbagharu had layups to open the scoring. UNF made another three-pointer to re-take the lead with 3:45 left but Nehemiah Turner scored inside and Fagbemi sank a three-pointer and a pair of free throws and UCA never trailed again.
After UNF got to within one point at 81-80 with 59 seconds left, Turner made two free throws with 13.9 on the clock before Evbagharu got a steal and made the final free throw.
Turner, playing off the bench after starting the previous four games, had 17 points and 5 rebounds and was 7 of 7 at the free-throw line. Fagbemi, returning to the lineup after missing two games with back spasms, had 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.
UCA led for just 3:49 in the game, compared to 37:32 for the Ospreys (13-14, 6-8), who beat the Bears by 12 points in the previous meeting in Jacksonville, Fla. last month.
The Bears return to the road for two games next week, playing at Queens on Tuesday and at West Georgia on Thursday.
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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