As a junior in 2010–11, Nicholson was an Atlantic 10 Preseason and All-Defensive first team selection, and went on to earn first-team All-Atlantic 10 and first-team NABC All-District honours. He also earned Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week for the week of December 20 with eventual conference Player of the Year Tu Holloway. He became the 38th player in school history to surpass the 1,000-point barrier with a foul-line jumper in the first half of the Niagara game on December 11, 2010.Nicholson Surpasses 1,000 Points, Niagara Gets By SBU In 31 games (all starts), he averaged 20.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 33.8 minutes per game. He scored a career-high 44 points, on 14-of-19 field goals and 16-of-25 from the free throw line, while pulling down 12 rebounds in a four-overtime thriller against Ohio on December 18, the longest game in SBU history.
