Late on strategy question

[Cloud]

I was in a STT (so it applies to a MTT as well), 3 left and myself and one other had a healthy lead over the other player (6500, 5000 - me, 2000). The blinds were 100/200. The big stack folds, I'm in the small blind and get dealt 77 - so I decide to put the small stack all-in - he calls. He turns over AK, and wins the coin flip. Then the other player criticises my play, saying that a raise would have done - and I could have got away from the hand if an Ace had come on the flop - which I do see. The problem is, I'm out of position and any flop is going to have overcards almost certainly - so if I do get called, I've given my opponent three cards to hit with. And in all probability, if I raise to 600 for example, surely it's an all-in or fold for my opponent anyway. So what do you think?? Bad play or the right play.

[Masterplan]

Re: Late on strategy question 77 vs a smallstack i'd play it exactly the same. 3 handed i'm not gonna fold 77, and i'm not going to give him the chance to hit cheap. so all in for him.