USCI-B SPI reading problem while USCI-A works OK

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430F2274

Hi,
I have spent quite a few hours trying to make the read buffer of USCI-B in the SPI mode (MSP430F2274) work but with no success. It has left me clueless as I checked with a logic analyzer that everything is fine - i.e. when sending a word via USCI-B SPI the clock is there, the Chip Select goes low and the MOSI line issues right characters which makes the MCU on the other side respond at the same time with some data on MISO but this data never gets into UCB0RXBUF.
I am puzzled even more as when I configured the MSP430 for USCI-A and it worked the data from the XX buffer without any asking. The only difference I can see setup-wise is the modulation control at USCI-A but that should be no_impact ? 
Then - is there any difference in configuring the USCI-B for SPI using duplex transmission ? I hope USCI-B can handle standard duplex SPI transmission as USCI-A which I have made work is not a good solution for me as I need RS232 at the same time and I understand USCI-B does not have it ?
I pasted both pieces of code - one for USCI-A working and USCI-B that works only for sending (TX buffer) but shows 0 after reading off the RX buffer:

Pawel

void SPIA_Setup(void)

{

  P3SEL |= 0x31;                            // P3.0,4,5 USCI_A0 option select

  P3SEL &= ~(1<<3); P3DIR |= 0x08;                             // P3.3 Chip Select

  UCA0CTL0 |= UCCKPH + UCMSB + UCMST + UCSYNC;  // 3-pin, 8-bit SPI master

  UCA0CTL1 |= UCSSEL_2;                     // SMCLK

  UCA0BR0 |= 0x10;

  UCA0BR1 = 0;

  UCA0MCTL = 0;

  UCA0CTL1 &= ~UCSWRST;                     // **Initialize USCI state machine**

  P3OUT &= ~0x08;

  UCA0TXBUF = val;

   //Wait for the SPI to indicate that it has finished.

  while (!(IFG2 & UCA0RXIFG));

  data= UCA0RXBUF; 

P3OUT |= 0x08;

// CSN High

RESULT:  Data is OK

void SPIB_Setup(void)

{

      P3SEL |= 0x0E;                            // P3.3,2, 3.1 USCI_B0 option select

      P3DIR |= 0x01;                            // P3.0 output direction

      UCB0CTL0 = UCMSB + UCMST + UCSYNC ;       // 4-pin active  LOW, 8-bit SPI mstr, MSB 1

      UCB0CTL1 |= UCSSEL_2;                     // SMCLK

      UCB0BR0 = 0x04*4;

      UCB0BR1 = 0;

      UCB0CTL1 &= ~UCSWRST;                     // **Initialize USCI state machine**

     P3OUT &= ~0x01;                         // CSN_LOW

      UCB0TXBUF = val;

    //Wait for the SPI to indicate that it has finished.

     while (!(IFG2 & UCB0RXIFG));

      data= UCB0RXBUF;

    P3OUT |= 0x01;                          // CSN High

RESULT:  Data = 0