Good merge or start of a bad habit?

FT of large field online MTT.

3 left, I’ve got 50% of the chips and have been getting waaaay out of line thanks to the 8bb stack to my left. Villain of the hand is aware.

Shorty folds the button, SB limps and I check 96hc to a flop of J95r1c, SB bets 1/2 pot I call. Turn 2c, SB checks I bet 1/3 for value, SB calls. River brings 2h for J9c52c2. SB checks…

I knew I was value betting here, but I figured that as I could eliminate Jx and I block 9x, his turn check-call-check range was so 5x heavy, along with baby pairs, that I could bet polar to rep a busted straight draw / turned FD that suddenly decided it had a 2.

Went 80% got snapped and won. Never found out what V had.

Decent line or ignorance affirming punt?