NEW YORK - Between injuries and illness, Boston University coach Jack Parker didn’t have a full roster through the first 12 games of the season. That changed last night when the Terriers squared off against former ECAC rival Cornell in “Red Hot Hockey’’ in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,200 at Madison Square Garden.

In the hard-hitting contest, in which BU outshot Cornell substantially (35-17), the teams skated to a 3-3 tie after the Terriers (4-7-2) rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period. The teams last met on the MSG ice two years ago, with BU winning, 6-3.

“I thought the best part about the game was our stick-to-itiveness, our perseverance,’’ said Parker. “We certainly had some legs. From a territorial point of view, we certainly deserved a tie. From an effort point of view, I was extremely pleased with my guys. From a speed and smarts point of view, after the first half of the first period, we gathered a little bit more smarts and still kept our speed.’’

The seventh-ranked Big Red (6-2-1) got on the scoreboard first, converting during a power-play goal at 3:07 of the first period. Sophomore defenseman Sean Whitney, formerly of Cushing Academy, tallied his first of the season with a shot from the right circle that beat goalie Grant Rollheiser (14 saves).

Sophomore Locke Jillson made it a two-goal lead, scoring his first of the year on a breakaway at 5:27. He charged down the slot and slid a forehander beneath Rollheiser, prompting Parker to call a timeout.