Three men assaulted a University of Minnesota student and alumnus early Monday morning in Dinkytown, according to a Minneapolis Police report.

Materials science and engineering graduate Matt Taylor said he was crossing 14th Avenue at 4th Street when three men he’d never seen before knocked him off his bike.

“I’m not sure if they were picking a fight or trying to mug me,” Taylor said.

Aerospace engineering junior Arden Yundt said he heard a crash and rushed to help his friend.

“They started coming at me,” Yundt said. “It turned into a big fight.”

Others in the area notified off-duty police officers, who broke up the fight with mace, said Minneapolis police Sgt. Steve McCarty .

“We just try to stop the behavior from happening,” McCarty said. “It’s better to use mace. [You’re] less likely to get hurt as opposed to using brute physical force.”

Taylor said he sprained his ankle during the fight and has since been walking with a cane.

“The whole event was over in no more than 30 seconds,” he said.

Yundt said he took several kicks to the face while trying to help his friend.

“Looking in the mirror,” Yundt said, “I’m still not sure it was a great idea.”

Bike theft

Two University students had their bikes stolen from outside the Bierman Place apartment complex, according to a police report.

Graphic design junior Christina Maher said she noticed her bike was missing Friday morning when she left her apartment to go to work.

Maher said she locked her bike to a pole outside with a cable lock, and her friend’s bike was locked to hers.

She said the bikes were probably targeted because cable locks are easier to cut.