College basketball official John Higgins is suing Kentucky Sports Radio, according to an exclusive report from The Athletic.

Higgins has filed a federal civil lawsuit against KSR and its operators, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, alleging “intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, tortious interference with a business, and civil conspiracy,” the report stated.

Higgins, his wife, Carol, and his company, Weatherguard, apparently are alleging that KSR shared Higgins’ personal and business information online and on the radio, which they say caused harm to his family and his business.

The claim calls for an award of damages in excess of $75,000, the report stated.

This stems from an Elite Eight game between Kentucky and North Carolina earlier this year, which the Wildcats lost, 75-73. Wildcats fans criticized Higgins after the game for what they thought was bad officiating.

Some took it further, threatening Higgins, his family and his business.

From The Athletic report:

The lawsuit alleges that Kentucky fans directed more than “800 threatening, vulgar, or harassing voicemail messages received on the Weatherguard phone lines,’’ and “30 such threatening, vulgar or harassing messages received on the Higgins’ family home phone line” at Higgins, his family or his business. Those threats were turned over to local law enforcement officials, and the Sarpy County sheriff determined that a “full dozen rose to the level of an actual threat of death or bodily injury and that he would pursue a criminal investigation,” according to the lawsuit.

Among the specific threats cited: ““You enjoy your life before somebody kills you,’’ and “You hear that garbage truck in the background over there? Wish you were in it personally.’’

Essentially, the lawsuit alleges that KSR is at fault for enabling some of this activity. It claims Jones and Franklin allowed commenters on KSR to post links to the Weatherguard company web site on the KSR website.

Jones allegedly referenced and spelled out the Weaherguard company’s website name on the radio. He also read several of the commenters’ posts over the air and laughed at some, the lawsuit said.

The KSR host/owner disputed this and said on Tuesday the lawsuit has no legal merit: