SPAIN is new U16 European Championship Men

Samuel Rodriguez ran the full spectrum of emotions but ended up Spain's hero as they edged out Serbia for gold in an overtime thriller at the U16 European Championship Men.

Rodriguez missed two free throws with 2.8 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime but was there to score the winning basket, grabbing the rebound from Xabier Lopez-Arosteguj's missed lay-up and putting it back up with seven seconds left in overtime.

It capped an amazing game that saw the momentum swing this way and that for 45 minutes .

The teams were never separated by more than eight points as they fought each other every step of the way.

A thrilling battle reached a fitting climax at the end of regulation when Spain recovered from a six-minute scoring drought with a 10-3 run that tied the game at 55-55 when Rodriguez nailed a pair of free throws with 1:43 remaining.

Stefan Peno, Lopez-Arosteguj and Nikola Rakicevic all missed threes as the game raced from end to end with time ticking down.

Spain held the ball for the final shot and although Pablo Perez air-balled his three-point attempt Spain had their chance when Rakicevic was called for a foul on Rodriguez under the basket in the melee.

But the pressure told as he went to the line and missed both ends, sending the game to overtime.

Serbia scored first in the extra period when Rakicevic split a pair of free throws but Sergi Garciaresponded with a three for Spain.

Rakicevic and Vojislav Stojanovic both split free throws to tie the game at 58-58.

Lopez-Arosteguj was next at the line for Spain, making the second after missing the first but Rakicevic's lay-up handed the advantage back to Serbia.

Rodriguez was back at the line with 2:20 to go and this time made no mistake, but Vanja Marinkovic'sthree gave Serbia an edge before Santiago Yusta was called for travelling.

Peno, the Barcelona guard facing two of his club team-mates in this game, missed a three and the game was tied again at 63-63 when one of those team-mates, Ramon Vila, made a lay-up.

Peno could not make a lay-up but Yusta turned it over and Spain survived when Rakicevic's three bounced up off the rim and into Yusta's grateful hands.

They held the ball as time ticked down before Lopez-Arosteguj attacked the basket. His shot rolled off the rim but Rodriguez snapped it up and laid it in.

Serbia called a quick time-out before Marinkovic put up a desperation three but the spoils belonged to Spain.

Rodriguez led Spain with 15 points and 14 rebounds while Lopez-Arosteguj scored 14.

Rakicevic made eight of 12 shots from the field to lead Serbia with 19 points while Peno had 10 points and 10 rebounds.