CCS/MSP430FR5994: 16 bit SPI data sync issues

Part Number: MSP430FR5994

Tool/software: Code Composer Studio

I am trying to make spi work with dma to transfer data to the UCAxTXBUF. The issue I am having is that the data loses sync with the clock. It also does not seem to enter the dma ISR. In terms of SPI, I am using the UCA3 bus with a 1.54Mhz bit clock to achieve a continuous 16bit data stream.  I am not sure what I am doing wrong (or even if the MSP430FR5994 can do this). I have attached the code of how I am configuring the SPI and DMA registers. 

    // UCA3 Settings:
    // Master
    // 4 Pin SPI
    // 8 data bits
    // Clock Source: SMCLK (24 MHz)
    // Bit Rate Divider:(for 1.536 MHz)
    // No Modulation
    // MSB First
    // Clock Phase - UCCKPL = 0, UCCKPH = 1
    // MSB first
    UCA3CTLW0 |= UCSWRST;   // Put state machine in reset
    UCA3CTLW0 |= UCCKPH | UCMSB | UCMST | UCMODE_1 | UCSYNC;
    UCA3CTLW0 &= ~(UCCKPL);
    UCA3CTLW0 |= UCSSEL__SMCLK;
    UCA3BRW = 0x11;  //scaling value for clock = 1.536Mhz
    UCA3CTLW0 &= ~UCSWRST;    
    
//DMA3 init config
    char spi_buffer[2] = {0};
    DMACTL1 |= DMA3TSEL_17;   // according to trigger number of UCA3TXIFG
    DMA3CTL = DMADT_4 + DMADSTBYTE + DMASRCBYTE + DMAIE + DMAEN+DMASRCINCR_3+ DMADSTINCR_0;
    __data16_write_addr((unsigned short) &DMA3SA,(unsigned long) spi_buffer);
    __data16_write_addr((unsigned short) &DMA3DA,(unsigned long) &UCA3TXBUF);
    DMA3SZ = 2;
           

This is what I am doing to initialize transfer, I did not include the ISR because it is not relevant. I also noticed that I am unable to enter the ISR using breakpoint in debug mode.

    //To trigger bursts of activity
    UCA3IFG &= ~(UCTXIFG);
    UCA3IFG |= (UCTXIFG);

    spi_buffer[0] = 0x02;
    spi_buffer[1] = 0x01;
    while(1)
    {
        if (!(DMA3CTL & DMAEN))
        {
            DMA3SZ = 2;
            DMA3CTL |= DMAEN;
        }
        if (DMA3CTL & DMAIFG)
        {
            temp = DMA3CTL;
        }

    }
}

Any help would be appreciated, thank you!