Bears
Bears stay alive in ASUN Tournament with win over Stetson
Nehemiah Turner on hot streak, leads UCA to quarterfinals of conference tournament, facing Lipscomb again Monday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A career night from freshman Nehemiah Turner helped extend UCA’s season at least another day as the Bears beat the Stetson Hatters, 77-72, in the opening round of the ASUN Championship on Sunday night at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena.
The Bears, the No. 10 seed, got 37 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots from the 6-10 power forward.
Coupled with his 24 points in the Bears’ final game in the regular season last Wednesday against No. 1 seed Lipscomb on the same floor, Turner is averaging 30.5 points per game at Allen Arena over the past five days.
UCA will now face No. 1 seed Lipscomb again at 7 p.m. Monday night in the ASUN quarterfinals.
“I told them before the game, and then I told them again at halftime, how can I not be proud of our team,” said UCA coach John Shulman. “How on earth are we even here (in the tournament)? But we have battled and battled. We talked about writing our version of history.
“Central Arkansas had one win in ASUN Tournament history going into tonight. And now we have two. Why can’t we have a chance to win tomorrow night. I’m super proud of our kids. And we have to take care of business tonight. We have to calm down. I’m a really big believer that you can only celebrate one time during a tournament. But our season has been so nutty, they are so happy in that locker room. And I’m going to let them be happy.”
The Bears, playing in just their second ASUN Championship and first since 2022, overcame a five-point halftime deficit, with Turner scoring 24 of his points after halftime. Turner finished 13 of 15 from the field and 11 of 12 at the free-throw line.
“Nemo got to stick Central Arkansas up there (on the bracket), and that was a really nice thing,” said Shulman. “I’m really proud of him. He just continues to grow, continues to be a man. Proud of Brayden. OD (Owen Derhmann) stepped up and made a big three.
“Just really proud of all the guys, to keep battling like we are.”
The ninth-seeded Hatters, who made 12 three-pointers, tied the game at 69-69 with 3:15 to play but UCA answered with a Turner dunk and a pair of free throw by lone senior Elias Cato. The Hatters made their last three with 1:50 remaining but UCA freshman Cole McCormick forced a jump ball on Stetson’s next possession and sophomore Brayden Fagbemi was fouled.
Fagbemi, who had 12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, made both free throws for a 75-72 lead with 25.1 left. Stetson missed and Turner pulled down his 11th rebounds and was fouled. His final two free throws with 11 seconds left sealed it.
Stetson had won the only regular-season meeting with the Bears 75-65 in DeLand, Fla. back in January.
UCA shot just 5 of 31 (16.1 percent) from three-point range, but made up the difference by making 18 of 19 (94.7 percent) at the foul line.
“If you can win when you go 5 of 31, you’re doing something special,” Shulman said. “We just continue to battle, that’s all you can say about these guys. And I’m proud of them.”
UCA is now 2-0 against Stetson in postseason play, having beaten the Hatters 74-73 in the opening round in 2022 at the Farris Center.
The Bears will now face Lipscomb for the second time in six days on Monday. The Bisons (22-9, 14-4) were co-champions of the ASUN with North Alabama but earned the No. 1 seed due to a tiebreaker. Lipscomb beat UCA 78-60 last Wednesday to close out the regular season.
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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