Bears
Bears get to ASUN Tournament, despite loss to North Alabama
UCA earns first conference spot in four seasons because West Georgia lost again Monday night, but progress made this year
CONWAY, Ark. — For UCA, it was all about celebrating their seniors and earning an Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament berth on Monday night at the Farris Center.
The Bears accomplished both, despite a 93-70 loss to first-place North Alabama in their home finale.
Still, the Bears earned their first spot in the conference tournament in their fourth season in the ASUN, thanks to a loss by West Georgia, a team UCA swept during the regular season.
The ASUN Tournament is held on campus sites all the way through the championship game, but UCA’s destination for Sunday’s first-round game is not known yet.
The league finishes its regular-season slate on Wednesday, with UCA playing at co-leader Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn.
“I’m disappointed about tonight, but we just ran into a better basketball team,” said UCA coach John Shulman. “We didn’t play bad, they just played really, really good, because they are really, really good.
“But let me explain it to you. Our goal was to win the league, and then we lost a bunch of players. So then I thought a realistic goal for our basketball team was to make the ASUN Tournament for the first time. And that’s a really important step for this team. It was really important for us to take a step forward, because no matter what happens on Wednesday, we get to play Sunday in the ASUN Tournament.
“And we have a shot. So we took a step forward, and I’m really, really proud of them.”
The Bears, who have battled numerous injuries throughout the season, celebrated two seniors during the pregame, four-year senior Elias Cato from Queensland, Australia, and two-year transfer Glory Etim from Richmond, Calif., in the final home games of their careers.
Cato, UCA’s second-leading scorer on the season, scored 11 points and made a pair of three-pointers. Etim had 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.
“I told our guys, I would love for Elias and Glo to lead us to a championship,” said Shulman. “But they’ve already led us to something we can grow on and build off of, because of who they are.
“If we don’t get to go to the tournament, then we made no progress. But we’ve made progress, even with our team as beat up as we’ve been. And I know we’re playing Wednesday, but you know what we get to do Sunday?
“We get to play in the ASUN Tournament. And we have the same amount of right to move on as anybody else in this league. And that’s exciting.”
Sophomore Diogo Seixas and freshman Cole McCormick led the Bears with 13 points each, while freshman Nehemiah Turner added 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocked shots.
UCA takes on Lipscomb at 7 p.m. Wednesday
The outcome of that game will have no effect on UCA’s tournament seed. The Bears will be No. 10 and will face No. 9 Stetson at one of several sites, including Lipscomb, UNA or Florida Gulf Coast.
The winner will then take on the No. 1 seed the next day in the quarterfinals.
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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