Bears
Cato, McCormick pick up scoring slack as Bears down Wolves
UCA makes things interesting, but Elias Cato, Cade McCormick take up scoring slack with Taylor out to finally get win
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas gutted out a much-needed victory Wednesday night, holding off the West Georgia Wolves 75-70 in Atlantic Sun Conference action at the Farris Center.
UCA got a career-high 18 points from redshirt freshman Ben Fox and made 10 of 23 from three-point range (43.5 percent) to earn its first victory since Jan. 4. The three-point percentage was the second-best of the season and came at a perfect time.
“We make things interesting, but I’m really proud of them and happy for them,” said UCA coach John Shulman. “We needed it badly. And to do this with how shorthanded we are is amazing. We’re going to enjoy this group and we’re going to have fun for at least nine more games, and we’d like to have a few more.”
The Bears, playing their second game without injured leading scorer Layne Taylor, got contributions from all 10 players that saw the court, including 17 points and 8 rebounds from lone senior Elias Cato, and three three-pointers and 11 points from freshman Cole McCormick. Sophomore Brayden Fagbemi added 7 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists, and hit two big free throws with 24.3 remaining. Sophomore Mike Evbagharu had 8 points and 9 rebounds.
UCA Bears Elias Cato looks for shot against West Georgia at the Farris Center in Conway, Ark. | Ted McClenning-AllBears+ Imaages
The Bears led 44-32 at halftime after shooting 51.5 percent from the field and making six three-pointers, three each from Fox and McCormick. But the Wolves (4-18, 2-7), who had just beaten North Florida by 20 points on Saturday, opened the half with a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to 48-44.
UCA answered that with an 8-0 burst, bookended by a three-pointer from Cato and a dunk by freshman Nehemiah Turner. Fagbemi handled most of the ball-handling duties despite picking up his fourth foul with 7:36 left to play. The Wolves got within two with 1:55 left on a layup by Shelton Williams-Dryden, but Fox responded with a huge three from the corner for a 73-68 lead.
Kyric Davis scored for UWG with 27.5 on the clock but Fagbemi nailed both free throws with 24.3 left to seal it.
“I think Max (Shulman) and Brock (Widders) did an outstanding job getting us ready offensively,” said Shulman. “And I made a deal with myself that I would call a bunch of timeouts. And there’s a difference in calling a time out when the score is tied or you’re behind and when you’re winning. And I’ve done a very average time calling time outs with this team at the right time.
“So I think we used our time outs better. Elias made a humongous three when we had to answer right there. And really proud of and happy for Brayden. He made two huge free throws. And I’m a big believer that you have to fail first before you can succeed. He fought the demons and faced them and made two huge free throws late and helped us win a basketball game.”
UCA also got valuable minutes from its bench, from Turner (5 points, 4 blocks), Ethan Thomas (5 points), D.J. Seixas (4 points) and Connor Mancell, with four minutes off the bench in his first action since Dec. 22.
“Good for him (Mancell), he’s been busting his tail in practice,” said Shulman. “Nemo’s starting to come along, D.J.’s starting to come along a little bit. And how about Ethan making a dadgum three? There are some moments that you’re never going to forget, and Ethan made a huge three. I’m looking at Elias who is checking in and he looks at me and just starts laughing.
“And listen, that’s what it’s all about. What it’s all about is making amazing memories, and these guys are doing that. It’s about the journey. We talk about writing our own chapter. Our book is about four chapters in, but who knows what the book entails. But we are definitely playing better and I think we’re hungry.
“I keep telling the guys, we don’t have pressure on us, but they feel like they do because they feel like they’re letting everybody down. But tonight we didn’t let anybody down.”
West Georgia, which shot just 39.7 percent overall, was led by Davis with 19 points and Williams-Dryden with 17.
UCA heads to Florence, Ala., on Saturday to take on North Alabama at 7:45 p.m.
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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