MINOT, N.D. – Minot State's Deuce Benjamin and Taryn Hamling turned up their game on the hardwood as soon as the season tipped off, leading the way respectively for the Beaver men's and women's basketball teams.

Both had individual career-best performances during the month as they sparked Minot State, earning Benjamin the Pinnacle Employee Benefits Minot State Male Athlete of the Month award for November and Hamling the Pinnacle Employee Benefits Minot State Female Athlete of the Month award for November.

Pinnacle Employee Benefits became the title sponsor for Minot State's Athlete of the Month award during the 2021-22 academic year. The award recognizes the outstanding athletic achievements each month of one male and one female Beaver student-athlete.

A junior from Las Cruces, New Mexico, who transferred from New Mexico Junior College, Benjamin is setting the pace for the Beaver men's basketball team in three statistical categories, including a team-high 19.1 points per game. He also has a team-high 23 assists through seven games in November, and 20 made 3-pointers (20-of-45) for Minot State.

Along with leading the way this season, Benjamin also had a career-best night with 30 points on Saturday in a non-conference game against South Dakota Mines in Bismarck, N.D., and had a career-high 6 assists against Mary on Tuesday in both teams' NSIC opener.

Benjamin also averaged 3.4 rebounds, had 6 steals, and blocked 2 shots for the Beavers during the month of November.

As for Hamling, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, who transferred from North Dakota State, she too led the way in three statistical categories in November for the Beavers, who played seven games during the month. Hamling led the Beavers in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per night during November, and had team-bests of 12 steals and 20 made 3-pointers (20-of-58).

Along with leading the Beavers in a trio of stat categories, Hamling also had a career-best night scoring 28 points this past Saturday in a 75-69 win at South Dakota Mines, and grabbed a career-high 7 rebounds in a 77-70 home win over Montana State Billings on Nov. 18.

She also had 6 assists, averaged 4 rebounds per game, and blocked 2 shots in November for the Beavers, and leads Minot State in scoring, steals, and 3-pointers made for the season, averaging 14.9 points for the first 8 games with 15 steals and 23 made 3s.

The Minot State men's and women's basketball teams are back in action this week, hosting Jamestown in NSIC action at the MSU Dome on Thursday, with the men tipping off at 5:30 p.m. and the women's game slated for 7:30 p.m. Minot State then hits the road for games at Northern State on Saturday.
 
2025-26 Pinnacle Employee Benefits Athletes of the Month
September
Zoe Banack, women's golf
Kasen Rostad, men's golf
 
October
Colby Joseph, men's hockey
Sabrina Amezcua, women's soccer
 
November
Taryn Hamling, women's basketball
Deuce Benjamin, men's basketball