Guard Rico Grier scored 27 points and forward Keith Himes added 17 as the Rams improved their record to 3-1 in the 3A South Piedmont Conference and 4-2 overall.

East, which slipped to 1-3 and 1-6, was led by center Cedric Gill with a career-high 19 points.

Coach Mark Flynn’s Mustangs battled the strong Rams on even terms in the first quarter, which ended in a 12-all deadlock.

Grier and Himes then combined for 17 points in the second quarter as the Rams outscored East 22-9 for a 34-21 halftime advantage. Grier had nine points in the quarter with a 3-pointer and three 2-pointers. Himes hit three straight field goals plus two foul shots for eight points.

Any chance East had of getting back in the contest in the second half ended when the Rams went on an 8-0 run to double the score at 42-21. The Mustangs could get no closer than 19 the rest of the way.

“I think we came out flat again tonight,” said East’s Flynn. “If we wanted to make excuses, maybe we could say three games in one week is tough, but we’re not. We just didn’t put forth the effort we needed to again tonight.”

East lost to SPC favorite West Rowan 69-50 at home on Tuesday night and to nonconference opponent South Stanly 55-54 in overtime at home again on Thursday night.

“I’m not pleased, and I know our players aren’t pleased either,” said Flynn after the 0-3 week.

“Their quickness was a real factor, both with their pressure, and they were quick hitting the boards for rebounds too,” he added.

Harding beat the Mustangs 31-24 on the boards with Himes’ eight rebounds leading the way. The Rams’ quickness helped cause 22 East turnovers, while Harding lost the ball 11 times.

“We turned the ball over way too much. We didn’t protect the ball very well. Even though they are quick, we’ve got to do a better job of protecting the basketball,” Flynn said.

Grier had a hot shooting night for the Rams, making his first five attempts and going 12-for-16 on field goals with three 3-pointers. Himes was 6-for-9 from the floor and 5-for-5 at the foul line.

For East, Gill scored 14 of his team’s 17 second-half points. He made four of East’s five field goals after halftime. The 6-4 junior was 6-for-10 on field goals and 7-for-11 at the foul line plus grabbing seven rebounds and blocking several shots.

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NOTES: Harding was 28-for-59 (47.5 percent) on field goals and 10-for-11 at the foul line, where sub Raymond Barksdale missed in the final quarter. ... East was 14-for-42 (33.3 percent) from the floor and 8-for-15 at the foul line. ... The Mustangs will have a rematch with South Stanly at Norwood on Monday night.

HARDING (70) — Himes 17, Boyce 2, Hayes 4, Grier 27, Lewis 4, Barnett 2, Jeter 2, Ennis 5, Davis, Crawford 6, Barksdale 1.

EAST ROWAN (38) — Weber, Gill 19, M. Shepherd 2, Cornelius 6, Miller 4, Rusher 2, Misenheimer, Sides 5, Hollifield, Martinez, Ledbetter.

Harding 12 22 17 19 — 70