Bears
NO PROBLEM: UCA cruises to easy win in final tuneup
Bears put up a whopping 120 points getting a 66-point win before heading to North Alabama.
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas’ final non-conference tuneup Wednesday afternoon turned into an early romp as they cruised past Champion Christian 120-54 at the Farris Center.
UCA (4-12) set numerous individual career highs and broke a 53-year old record for team rebounds in a game with 73. The Bears also made a season-high 15 three-pointers, had seven players in double figures scoring and had a pair of double-doubles.
The Bears, still playing without a pair of injured starters, scored all the points they would need in the first half as they raced out to a 65-17 lead at the break. Freshman Tucker Anderson came out on fire and scored the first 13 points of the game for the Bears to give them a 13-2 lead in the opening three minutes of the game. Anderson and sophomore Carl Daughtery, Jr., combined for 31 points in the first half as the Bears shot 54.2 percent from the field and limited Champion to just 20.7 percent.
Daughtery, in his third consecutive start, followed up a 23-point effort at Missouri on Saturday with a career-high 29 points in just 28 minutes on Wednesday. Daughtery was 3 of 9 from three-point range. Anderson was 4 of 7, senior Masai Olowokere was 3 of 5 and junior Brendan Simmons was 3 of 8 from beyond the arc as UCA attempted a season-high 38 threes and connected on 39.5 percent of them.
The 120 points was the most since UCA had 119 against the same Champion Christian team in 2021. The 66-point margin of victory was also the most since the 119-47 win over the Tigers in 2021.
Daughtery Jr., was one of a season-high seven players to score at least 10 points. Anderson added 18 points, while graduate Daniel Sofield had 14 and Olowokere, Simmons, junior Ibbe Klintman and sophomore Glory Etim all scored 11 points. Klintman shattered his career high with 17 rebounds, while Etim also put up a double-double with 14 rebounds. Klintman had 19 rebounds on the season entering the game and nearly doubled that in 22 minutes of action off the bench.
Sophomore guard Johannes Kirsipuu played a big role in many of those points with 12 assists in 17 minutes. Freshman forward Caleb Carr finished with a pair of career highs with 7 points and 12 rebounds. UCA pulled down 28 offensive rebounds that led to 33 second-chance points, compared to four offensive boards and three second-chance points for the Tigers.
UCA’s previous record for single-game rebounds was 66 set against School of the Ozarks in 1970. The Bears had 63 boards in the 2021 game against Champion Christian. The previous high this season was 50 vs. Hendrix.
UCA opens Atlantic Sun Conference play on Saturday, taking on the North Alabama Lions at 7:15 p.m. in Florence, Ala. The Bears return to the Farris Center on Thursday, Jan. 11 to take on Eastern Kentucky.
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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