The University of Hawaii’s Collegeinsider.com Tournament basketball game against Air Force Wednesday night will not be shown on local TV unless ticket sales hit 6,500, athletic director Ben Jay said today.

Jay said UH is in discussions with Oceanic Time Warner Cable about carrying the game if ticket sales hit 6,500, which is the estimated break even point.

“We’re not going to televise this until ticket sales hit 6,500,” Jay told the Star-Advertiser this morning.

Jay said the decision to underwrite one or two home games for UH after its first-round loss in the Big West Tournament was based upon the players.

“I think they would like the opportunity to play another game,” Jay said.

Speaking later at the Honolulu Quarterback Club, Jay added, “It really came down to our student athletes, to give them the experience of playing in the postseason

“After watching that game last week in Anaheim (UH’s loss to UC Irvine in the Big West Tournament) I knew that’s not the way our kids wanted to end the season. This gives them a chance for redemption.”

The financial goal is to at least break even, Jay said.

Jay said he would have to let Oceanic known by Wednesday morning if they will be allowed to broadcast the game.

Hawaii hosts Air Force at the Stan Sheriff Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first round. Air Force (17-13) will be playing without the Mountain West’s leading scorer, Michael Lyons (17.7) who tore a medial meniscus in his right knee in the conference tournament.  

Tickets sales to season ticket holders began Sunday night and the public sale begins today at 5:00 p.m. (online only) and at 9:00 a.m. at the box office Tuesday morning.