TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The state that gave much of America the right to offer legal sports betting may decide that certain bets on college athletes are out of bounds. New Jersey is considering banning bets on the statistical performance of student athletes, such as how many touchdowns a quarterback will throw or how many rebounds a basketball player will rack up. The NCAA says 1 in 3 college athletes in heavily bet-on sports report being harassed or threatened by angry gamblers. Thirteen states already ban such bets. The proposal moved forward Thursday but still needs additional approvals to become law.

UNDATED (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference finds itself fighting for respect from the College Football Playoff selection committee. Miami was the only ACC team inside the coveted top 12 during the latest CFP rankings even though SMU is in first place with three weeks to go in the regular season. Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee says the rankings in general don’t make much sense. Lashlee believes there should be equal representation in the 12-team field from the four major power conferences. Only the winner of the ACC Championship is guaranteed a spot in the CFP field.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Aziaha James scored 20 points to surpass 1,000 for her career and No. 13 N.C. State broke away in the fourth quarter to defeat Kent State 79-51. The Wolfpack led 56-44 entering the fourth quarter and reeled off the first 14 points, eight by Zamareya Jones. The Golden Flashes went more than 7 1/2 minutes before making two free throws and eight minutes before making a field goal, missing 11 straight shots. Jones had 16 points for N.C. State, which had 11 players score and 10 grab a rebound. Bridget Dunn had 17 points and Jenna Batsch 15 for Kent State, which shot better from 3-point range (10 of 28) than inside the arc (5 of 29) and went 11 of 11 from the foul line.

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Jordan Wood came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points, Toby Fournier added 15 and No. 16 Duke defeated Dayton 84-49 on Thursday night. Wood was 8-of-11 shooting and led the Blue Devils with nine points in the first half when they took a 37-23 lead. Reigan Richardson added 12, Oluchi Okananwa 11 and Ashlon Jackson and Vanessa de Jesus 10 each for Duke (3-1), which shot 50%. The Blue Devils made only 9 of 19 free throws and had 16 turnovers but they turned 24 Flyers turnovers in 32 points and dominated paint points 48-12. Ivy Wolf hit four 3-pointers and scored 14 points while Ajok Madol added 12 points for Dayton (2-1).

UNDATED (AP) — No. 17 Clemson visits Pittsburgh in a key matchup for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s title chase. That headlines the slate in the league’s slate this week. The Tigers are trying to stay close behind No. 14 SMU while battling No. 12 Miami for positioning in the standings. The top two teams will go to the ACC title game. The schedule includes the Mustangs trying to remain unbeaten in their first year of league play.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman wants his No. 8 Fighting Irish locked into playoff mode when they host Virginia. The Fighting Irish have won seven straight to move back into playoff position and Freeman knows they can’t afford another stumble in their final three games as they try to position for a home playoff game. Virginia is riding high, too, after beating then-No. 23 Pittsburgh last week to move within one game of becoming bowl eligible. Freeman expects the Cavaliers to play with high intensity Saturday.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — No. 17 Clemson heads to Pittsburgh hoping to keep its hopes of reaching the ACC title game alive. The Tigers are 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the ACC but are in third place in the league behind SMU and Miami. Clemson needs to beat the Panthers and hope SMU loses twice or Miami loses once to make it to the ACC championship after missing out last season. Pitt has dropped two straight since a 7-0 start.

DALLAS (AP) — SMU is all alone atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with a direct path to the 12-team College Football Playoff even if its new league does get only one team in the expanded field. The 8-1 Mustangs have a lot a stake with really no room for error. They host 5-4 Boston College on Saturday. That is the first of three games left in the regular season as SMU tries to secure a spot in the ACC championship game, where a guaranteed playoff berth will be on the line. The Mustangs are the only of the 17 ACC teams without a league loss.