CCS/RM48L952: Using SPI interface & SPI's alternative pins as GPIOs at the same time

Tool/software: Code Composer Studio

Hello,

I have faced an issue with the SPI interface (spi master, no interrupts) and the SPI SOMI line which will act as a GPIO. Isn't it possible due to the system design just to use the API created by Halcogen for the SPI interface to use only the ChipSelect, SPI clock, SPI SIMO line for the communication with an external device as well as the SPI SOMI just as an simple GPIO line at the same time? The corresponding SOMI line is not connected at all with the SPI communication.

Reading the TRM, its clear for me where I need tolook at for the configuration but  when i call the "spiTransmitData" function which is based on polling after the spi initialization (spiInit()) the function gets stucked at the while loop waiting for the RXINT flag.

        while((spi->FLG & 0x00000100U) != 0x00000100U)
        {
        } /* Wait */
        SpiBuf = spi->BUF;

How can I overcome this problem with the current setup? Can you provide some example code for this specific dummy application