Was this a WISE PLAY?? Input please

[stragf]

I played my 2nd tourney last night at a local casino. $30 freeze out, $1000 in chips. 66 players. I'm down in the field with 17 others total, nine at our table. I'm in position on the button. Blinds are $200/$400. I get pocket 8's. Bet goes around and I call. Big blind goes all in. Everyone folds around to me. Heads up if I go.He and I both have the same number of chips, $2700 which gave us 3 and 4th size stack. No one was really pulling in huge pots. Tight play, and we were all close. Anyways, I called. He rolls pocket nines. Nothing hits the board and I'm out. Did I play this properly? I wanted to make a move to pull down a good pot, but I'm not 100 percent certain I made the correct play. Of course if an 8 hit the board, it would have been good. Input please? I'm pleased I made it to 18 position on my 2nd tourney. Thanks all.

[sirio11]

You should go all in first with your hand.

[Mechanism]

I Think making a big raise/moving in depending on the number of players that have limped in is the correct play. limping in and calling is definatly wrong imo. he makes this play with a had close to yours or big overcards and your only a slight favorite. plus you know that he has lots of chips to play with so he isnt worried about picking up a hand right away.

[stragf]

Thanks for all the great input. Blinds were 200/400. I called last after the majority had called, and then he went AI. I really struggled with it, and He had been real short stack a couple of times, and fought back with K/Q, pocket 5's and A/Q, so I really didn't know what he had for certain. I thought long and hard about it after, and the moment I called, I realized a raise of likely 2X BB might have been OK. I think it was largely inexperience that I went heads up with him.
As I said, I was pl;eased I made it down to 16th for my 2nd tourney. I think I played quite solid until the brain fart on pocket 8's. I never had the chance to see the flop if I folded, but I probably should have begged off. As most of you mentioned, with my stack it wasn't do or die. Oh well, that's the tuition isn't it? I usually play $3/$6, and its alot easier to sit back than in No limit. They are different games.Thanks again.

[locutus2002]

You only have 7XBB left, push the first time it comes round to you.

Having made the call the first time you have to call given what you know about villain.

The pots laying you ~1.6:1. (assuming 2 other players folded)
Villain has to have you beat more than 72% to make this a fold. If he's playing 55, and KQ here then its an easy call.